Camille S

We are not professional critics, but the amount of times we said "it's really good" speaks for itself! Abbey's Real Texas BBQ is the real deal, bringing authentic, slow-smoked flavor to San Diego. The 18-24 hour cook time for their meats is truly evident in the final product. Our favs: -Beef Brisket: Incredible tenderness and a deep, smoky flavor. A must-order. -Pulled Pork: juicy, perfectly seasoned -Brisket Tacos: a MUST HAVE -Pumpkin Cheesecake: so rich and creamy!!! If you are looking for genuine, high-quality Texas BBQ in San Diego, make Abbey's your next stop. Excellent food, great lunch specials, and will definitely be back!!

Quyen Nguyen

First time here. We got the N1 Sampler Plate that comes with two sides. We chose mac&cheese and fried okra. The beef brisket was fatty and fork tender. There was a hint of smokiness in the meat and the bark was really tasty. The pulled pork was not dry. Both meats went REALLY well with their house made Carolina Tangy Gold sauce (a tangy mildly sweet honey mustard). Their house made bbq sauce was tangy and slightly sweet. The ribs did not fall off the bone but it was juicy and tasty. The chicken was slightly dry but chicken was smoky in flavor especially the skin. Their mac and cheese was very creamy from the beginning of the meal to the end and had a slight kick to it. The noodles must have been al dente because it held up really well. The fried okra was perfectly crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. The corn bread was soft and buttery it had something like a sweetened bottom, did not need anything extra on it. Shout out to Mark for the fantastic service despite being slammed during the holiday lunch rush, he ensured we weren’t forgotten and even gave us some extra attention. We are definitely coming back to try more!

Caleb Thrush

Having lived most of my life in Texas, I’ve had my fair share of authentic BBQ from some of the state’s best-known joints. So when I say that Abbey’s Real Texas BBQ holds its own among the top-tier spots back home, that means something. Over several business trips to the area, I’ve ordered from Abbey’s three times and the consistency and quality keep me coming back. Brisket (9/10) These folks know what they’re doing. The brisket was cooked nearly to perfection, fork unnecessary. The fat was beautifully rendered, melting like soft butter, and the smoke flavor hit just right. It’s not easy to impress a Texan with brisket, but Abbey’s did. Pulled Pork (8/10) Texas isn’t known for pulled pork, so I was thrilled to find theirs done so well. Excellent texture, balanced smoke, and a rich, savory flavor that rivals what I’ve had in Tennessee. That’s high praise. Chicken (8/10) The smoked chicken had fantastic flavor and was cooked spot-on, juicy, smoky, and tender. Solid all around. Pork Ribs (N/A) I’ll hold off on a rating here since I only received end pieces on my order. They were a bit overdone with heavy bark, but what I did manage to try fell off the bone—always a good sign. I’ll definitely give them another shot next time. Potato Salad (8/10) Unique flavor profile, different from what I’m used to in Texas, but surprisingly delicious. It worked. Beans (7/10) Good, solid beans. Nothing extraordinary, but no complaints either. Sweet Cornbread (10/10) My god—take my money! I could eat an entire sheet of this. Moist, buttery, and perfectly sweet. Most cornbread tastes the same everywhere, but this one stands out. BBQ Brisket Tacos (9/10) Fantastic combination of flavors, sauces, and toppings. A creative and delicious twist on traditional brisket. BBQ Sauce (7/10) Here’s the pro and con: you know a BBQ joint is doing it right when you don’t need sauce, and Abbey’s nailed that. The sauce itself was decent, nothing mind-blowing, but the meat didn’t need it anyway. Consistency One thing that really sets Abbey’s apart is consistency. Across three separate orders, the flavor and quality have been rock solid. That reliability earns them an easy 5 stars in my book. Final Thoughts Abbey’s Real Texas BBQ delivers genuine, top-tier BBQ that could hold its own back in Texas. It might not be the best of the best, but it’s absolutely in that top bracket. If you’re craving real Texas-style BBQ and want consistency, flavor, and perfectly smoked meats, Abbey’s is the place. Apologies for no pictures but the food was too good and I dug right in.

Nicole Sid

We ended up at Abby’s Barbecue by chance for my partner’s birthday after another spot we tried was closed, and I’m so glad it worked out that way. From the moment we walked in just about 40 minutes before closing the staff could not have been more welcoming or kind. We tried to hurry since we saw they were closing, even asking for to-go boxes so we could do the birthday cake outside. Instead, one of the staff members (I believe the owner’s son) encouraged us to stay and not rush. He shared that he had just turned 32 himself and then went above and beyond getting on the speaker to have everyone sing happy birthday. It was such a thoughtful and genuine gesture, and it really made the night unforgettable. On top of the incredible hospitality, the food was absolutely phenomenal. Every bite was delicious, and you can tell the care that goes into it. I can’t recommend Abby’s enough. If you’re looking for amazing barbecue paired with genuine kindness and hospitality, this is the place. We’ll definitely be back!

Brittany Gilbert

For my first time here, I tried the smoked turkey plate with cornbread (yummy!), onion rings and mac and cheese. The turkey had a great smoky taste and the Mac and cheese was a good combo a creamy and cheesy. I prefer super crispy onion rings so these weren't for me but still tasted good. My husband had the smoked chicken wrap, which was super delicious as well! The owner had great customer service and made sure we were happy with our meal. I will definitely be returning!

Joshua Jackson

I had the pleasure of meeting the owner and could tell from his outstanding attitude this place was going to be just as outstanding and it 100% did not disappoint. Great atmosphere, great customer service, and great food to top it all. Being our first time there we got 2 of the sample platters and my favorite was definitely the Brisket and Pork. Also a big thank you to Kianna for being excellent behind the counter making everything super easy and giving great recommendations! Will be returning soon!

Scott Hagen

Super friendly! I couldn’t help but finish my wife’s leftover burger in the fridge, now I have to get her another one soon! 😆 Really, best burger I’ve ever had in my life. We’ll be back!

E. T.

So everyone knows how nostalgia makes for Foodie pursuits. Was I really thinking it was possible to get Mesquite smoked, slow cooked, succulent brisket, with ranchero beans AND Potato Salad, and decent BBq sauce for that real Texas Brisket Plate I have every Sunday I am in south Texas??? The restaurant is in a plaza which made me a little nervous as to whether it would live up to my imagination, BUT Well then!! I had to grab this Abbey’s Real Texas BBQ plate to go, and yes, I broke into it the minute my take out box hit the counter!! ~And even after bad traffic and sitting there with 25 minutes of the delicious brisket smell wafting in my car, it still tasted fresh and amazing! I am so glad I drove out to La Mesa for this treat. Someone had warned me that they felt the brisket was “too dry” but not my plate! It was perfectly moist, fork tender and not a bit greasy!! The Ranchero Beans were awesomely seasoned, so delicious ! I will admit that you would not really find a lot of Texas potato salad made from skin-on red potatoes, but no complaints here as I found the potato salad was delicious! Oh And I LOVED the corn bread! It had a pleasant sweetness to it, just the way I like it!!!~I arrived just before the lunch crowd, and was served very quickly. The line after my order was already 15 people deep! I did not have time for photos as I had to get back home quickly, but it is a very nicely appointed dining area, with plenty of tables to configure for whatever size crowd you bring! The brisket was perfection, in my opinion! Enjoy! **Picture shows only a bit of the brisket in my order. There was enough for two more servings for me! And then I returned for a dine in experience and it was absolutely consistent in every way: delicious, moist brisket, great ranchero beans and potato salad, tasty corn bread!! Plenty of seating, and a thoroughly enjoyable time!! Added Pictures are from dine in!

Shondra J

We had a great experience at Abbey’s with our large group! While the restaurant operates with counter service rather than table service, the setup is spacious and comfortable, with plenty of seating in various sizes to accommodate parties of all kinds. The staff was welcoming and helpful, offering great suggestions from the menu. Abbey’s serves classic barbecue platters along with tasty alternatives like burgers, a wrap, a bowl, and loaded fries. The portions were generous—many of us had leftovers to take home. Their tangy barbecue sauce was a hit and paired perfectly with everything we tried. Our group ordered a mix of items including burgers, the wrap, loaded fries, a bowl, and a brisket platter—everyone was happy with their meal. They also offer a selection of alcoholic beverages, bottled and canned drinks, and fountain sodas. Overall, we were very satisfied with our visit and definitely plan to return!

+2

Patrick Williams

Abbey's real texas bbq is a local bbq joint that the community loves here in Mira Mesa in San Diego, CA. I'm a regular here and thought I'd leave a review to share how amazing this place is. Everytime I had a bad experience whether long wait or wrong order they have made up for it and should they care for the customers alot and I thank the owners and staff. They go above and beyond normal restaurants staff help and wanted to thank Kaitlyn and Pamela for kind service providing great experiences. I wanted to recognize, Jess who does an amazing job there and really acts like an owner. Jess is nice lady with amazing curtesy by taking time and checking in with you as you eat and let's you know she and Abbey's appreciates you and ask if everything is good as order and finds ways to help and I appreciate her for acting like an owner and deserves well. The food is great!!! I go here often and have tried alot but i enjoy the western bbq burger is an impressive tasting and brisket by the pound is mouth watering so good and the wings do not disappoint. The bbq sauce is sweet and tangy I enjoy it it on everything really. They added three new sides the loaded potato, mac'n cheese, and turkey leg 🍗 . I was the first customer to try the loaded baked potato and choose to add meat on top of it and it was so satisfying to eat every piece of it was great and I'd highly recommend it 10/10. I'm a big mac'n cheese critic and this mac n cheese is pretty good but it falls short missing on the natural cheese taste and is kind of sloppy saucy, I'd give it a 4/10. The turkey leg was a big miss and I've had some really good turkey leg before that open up and fall off the bone good but this was not it was hard and could not get it off the bones all around it. Tough skin and no cutting utensils except butter knife makes it a bring your own knife or dont get it, because there's bones everywhere and you won't be able to eat it. The turkey meat was pretty good but I'd give the turkey leg a 1/10. Overall, Abbey's has alot to offer and amazing bbq and is very great experience in just about anything you order and appreciate they're staff.

+8

Good food and friendly staff. Large portions of food. Their meats are fantastic. The meat was grilled to perfection and yet still so juicy. Their cornbread was great. I tried the brisket, chicken, and ribs: all were great. Their fries were a bit overly crunchy, but when you have meat and sauce on top you don't want them too soft or else they would get soggy. The mac n cheese was very different, almost an alfredo cheese sauce, good but catches you off guard. Wait time for food was pretty short, meal was ready in 15 minutes or less. Sports games on the TVs.

jay rodriguez

Got the Brisket 2 side combo. Didn't disappoint, 3 briskets were fatty juicy and very good flavor. Pinto beans was okay good. I guess I'm use to the stew kind of deep baked texture, but the potato salad was very on point, I must say! And the cornbread was so good, wish they gave a slightly bigger slice. 4/5 stars and I will definitely come back.

Brandon Nolte

Really solid BBQ. The brisket was fatty and full of flavor, and the ribs had a nice smoky taste with tender meat that nearly fell off the bone. The coleslaw could’ve used a bit more vinegar for balance. Wings were not gluten free, so I didn’t try them. Staff was super friendly, though parking was tight with lots of towing warnings. My current favorite BBQ spot in San Diego.

Internal Dandelion

I've been here a few times and it's a good spots to visit for BBQ. The brisket is really tender and not too smoky, but I know others may want a bit more. Portions were decent but the wings were a bit dry for my taste. One thing that's cool is their Texas Chainsaw Mammoth Sandwich. It which was HUGE and if you can eat it within their timeframe you can get on the Wall of Fame! Overall, it's a good choice for BBQ in the city.

Royce X Aquino

The food tastes better than average (better than steakhouse, in n out, kind of joints). The portions are a bit small, but tasty. The place is in an old area so it feels meh, but not too bad. Furthermore I still would recommend it if you love brisket!

Olympia Balcázar

Food was okay nothing special to what was expected due to such positive reviews a bit disappointing. Everything was dry except for the chicken and the Mac and cheese was delicious. Baked beans were undercooked and very tangy and the brisket was unfortunately very dry. Overall food review 5/10. Atmosphere wise 3/10 a worker was sweeping and swept under our table while dining and swept our feet with broom. Not very pleasant as we felt like we were in her way. Something that could’ve been done prior to opening rather than while customers are eating. We ordered burnt ends to which we never received and most likely they didn’t put our order in correctly. Mid food mid environment

This establishment claims its "real Texas BBQ" is far from the truth. The meat was tough and flavorless. They claim the Brisket and pulled pork is smoked for 18-24 hours but it tastes like boiled beef instead. Pork ribs were possibly the driest of all meats, all meat felt like shards of glass even the bbq sauce could not save it. The staff was friendly and kind bur overall a hard pass, highly do NOT recommend and I won't be dining here again.