David McCloud

So good! We order a lot thinking it would be a good amount ut it was way more than expected! Perfectly bbq'd meats! Super tender!

Rich Hardie

We walked into Up in Smoke BBQ in San Marcos on a whim. It was Saturday afternoon at 3:00 so it wasn't that busy but we sat down at the bar and the bartender recommended several items. We ordered the à la carte half pound of burnt ends at $14 and they were outstanding! I highly recommend visiting Up in Smoke for great barbecue, good beer selection and friendly service!

Really great food we had the shredded chicken and mac n cheese it was delicious. The bartender/server is the best. She took such great care of not only us but the other 5 or 6 tables of customers

The food was amazing. I got the mini stack with chopped brisket... I wasn't too excited about the black beans but honestly it worked. so good the bar b que sauce is not too sweet which I usually don't enjoy but this was good. will definitely come back and maybe even dine in.

Insanely flavorful BBQ with tons of great choices. The place is a little hidden but it is definitely worth going to. Another item that i couldn't stop ordering was the lemonade. It was some of the best lemonade i've ever had. I will easily be returning to this gem!

I go here on the regular and always enjoy my time in here. The food is always consistent, and it’s always very good. The sliced brisket is a great choice for anyone who loves smoked meats. The beer selection is plentiful as well. I highly recommend this bbq spot

Our first visit to Up In Smoke. Have had BBQ in Lockhart, Texas and all over Florida and the South. Up In Smoke is by far the best BBQ joint we’ve been to. The chile, brisket, burnt ends and mac n cheese were excellent. The quality of each serving was very good. I highly recommend you give Up In Smoke a try. You won’t be disappointed.

Love the patio the pulled pork and brisket are amazing. This was the first place I got to go try after the restaurants opened up again after shelter in place. The meats are amazing and the coleslaw was fantastic. My dog and I will definitely come back.

Went with my family and in-laws. 7 happy people. It was all good. Standouts included brisket mac and cheese and the pulled pork. The coleslaw and beans were also delicious.

The BBQ exceeded my expectations and have me wanting more! Love the set up inside with booths with curtains and signs were personalized for California western vibe. Plus meeting the sheep nearby the resturant was exciting!

Bought take out. Food was so good. The Mac-n-cheese is to "die for"! Brussel sprouts were crispy and delicious!! Now, my favorite BBQ place.

Fast and attentive service with a great rustic look and southern feel! Not to mention the HUGE portions for great prices. Coming from a southern family, this is the best BBQ I've had on the West Coast and will absolutely be back!

Customer service was awesome!!! Christine was so friendly, attentive and helpful. Oh yes, and the food and dessert was also delicious :) jk. Great place for the entire family... we didnt think to take pictures of the food but we did of the chips. Enjoy!

Great little hidden gem. Though the restaurant is small and there were only 2 employees waiting tables, the food was delicious and the staff was friendly and working hard to keep the guests happy. Would definitely recommend to a friend

We had lunch here today as or coupon book had an advertisement for discounts at this location, so we thought we'd try it. It's location is kind of hidden but actually nice because it's not in a busy noisy place. Our server was very nice and accommodating and she had tried the food which helped us know we were getting good info on what to try. I had read reviews on Yelp but it's good to talk to staff that knows the food. Seasoned Popcorn was served to snack on which was tasty. There are cards and games to play if you so choose while you are waiting for food. The food came quickly and we got the pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw on it and baked beans, both very good and there was meat in the beans which my husband loved. Great favor we both agreed on. Here likes bbq sauce on the meat and I like the meat with just the natural smoke flavor so there's sauce on the table you can add if you need more. I got the sliced brisket. Tender and just a dry rub on it. Very good and moist. The cornbread I ordered as my side and it was delicious! The cut the muffins in half and then grill them. Very tasty! I didn't need the butter. The sweet tea is great as well. Ordered a mini pecan pie to go and we heated it up and put the ice cream on it they gave us....yum!! The puff desserts are popular but didn't try them. We are glad to have found this place. They have a food truck and do catering. We liked it better than Phil's BBQ. Owner was there and very nice. There's a pasture out back with cows in it and so it was nice and felt like we're in the country a little bit even though we're right in the center of San Marcos. Looking forward to our next visit. Hope they get some advertising out there. They've been there since September and we're just down the street from them but just now found out about them and only because of a coupon in the mail. We hope they stick around and will pass the word on.

The atmosphere is rustic but clean and the staff is very friendly. I ordered the stack-o-meat and it was delicious. You get to sample thee different meats and it comes with chips and black beans. The meat is juicy and full of flavor, unlike Phil's, so you do not have to drown it in BBQ sauce. This was my first time at this place and I will definitely be back.

Absolute best barbecue I've had, since I've been in California. The meat was cooked perfectly, no frills or fancy stuff. Our brisket could barely be picked up by the fork, and the Beef Ribs are HUGE; The bone pulls clean through! Also, the side mac and cheese is almost a meal by itself! The waiter, Brandon, was very polite, knowledgeable and made our experience that much better. I definitely recommend this place to anyone that loves classic, no-BS-BBQ.

Have been in search of a BBQ restaurant that sells burnt ends. Found it!!! This BBQ place is ridiculously awesome. The food was fabulous. The beef rib is the size Fred Flintstone ate! Slaw was homemade with a beautiful vinegar dressing. An order of onion rings serves 3. The meat is fall off the bone softer than butter with an excellent flavor. Subtle smoke flavor that doesn't overpower the food. My burnt ends were perfect. So meaty. I was disappointed I didn't have room for dessert. They offer some very unique options. Next time I will definitely leave room for dessert. I thought it was a bit pricey.... until I tasted it. AAA quality meat. No cheap second rate ingredients. You definitely get what you pay for. If I could give it 6 stars I would. Let me finish by giving kudos to the staff. Very accommodating. Helped my husband carry out our order to the car. No that's customer service! Bravo Up in Smoke! Well done you. See you soon.

I ordered the Meaty Mac with pulled pork and coleslaw as my side. It was delicious! The portion was large so definitely worth the price to have leftovers for lunch this week. Best BBQ we've had in California so gar!

Best bbq in north county. I've tried all of the others. This is the best. If you get the stack of meat with fries it will feed up to 4 people and it's delicious. They have burnt ends which are delicious . All the meats are so good. The service is great . I really think it's a hidden gem in north county SD.

Great BBQ! Our waiter Britney was awesome! Honestly The Best BBQ in town!

Bit rough around the edges, but that adds to the ambiance. The food was epic in proportion and flavor. The wait staff were very very pleasant and actively looking to make your experience better, but not bother you. Parking wasn't super, and I'm not sure the access was very suitable for a wheelchair. Dogs were allowed outside at the table. The lemonade was AMAZING!!

Food was top notch. I had the mini stack which was a brisket from heaven! Top notch service and friendly people who work there. Johann helped me pick what type of meal for what I had in my mind. The ladies that work there are really kind as well! Will be returning for sure!

First time here, these are the best ribs I have had in San Diego. The service was great, portions were generous, and everyone was raving by the end of the meal about how tender and flavorful the food is. My sister said it best "This is the kind of place Guy Fieri would be crazy about!" We are telling everyone about this place and will be back soon!

Always great food, friendly service (Elizabeth, Christine, Brandy(?)) definitely make sure you feel welcome. Had the chopped brisket sandwich, the last two visits. Huge portions, you get your money's worth in the servings. Finally, a place with REAL BBQ. Try the different flavors of lemonade too - awesome!!

Great BBQ and amazing service. Christine went out of her way to insure the family was comfortable and the kids were having a good time. From the moment we walked in to the moment we left the level of care and attention was top notch. The owner even gave the kids some celery to feed the cows out back. Really great first impression..We'll be back.

Great BBQ with good prices. The owner was super nice and fun. There are tables right on Grand Ave. and some seating inside. Will definitely be back.

The food here was amazing. Growing up in KC its hard to find good BBQ out here on the west coast. But holy smokes, it's right here! They will be packed, so be prepared to settle in with an app while you wait for best BBQ on this coast! (It also warms up well as leftovers!)

1st time going to Up In Smoke with my brother yesterday. The hot wings are delicious and the brisket sliders I got were bomb!! The waitress took very good care of us. Highly recommend to check it out

I got two delicious pulled pork sliders and seasoned fries. Sliders were warm and juicy. Our waitress was nice, she did her job well she was the only waitress there waitressing all the table and greeting everyone who came in. 5 star work.

The GREATEST pulled chicken I have ever had! I could eat it everyday of my life! The brisket and pork are delicious too. Sides are also amazing. Chili is packed with delicious tender meat. Generous portions of meat. It reheats very well too. Service is fantastic. We love Kayla! Do yourself a favor and try this GEM in Escondido!!!

From a food truck to a restaurant that’s how good their food is and how worthy it is !!! I can’t never get enough of their food 😭❤️ the staff are on their A game and their super friendly! Just by looking these photos I wanna go back again for more 🤣

+1

Came here for lunch with my bf and dog. Dog friendly patios are a HUGE plus for us. He comes with us everywhere. There was a beautiful breeze and gorgeous weather. Siham was our server, and she was lovely. Professional and prompt. My Mac and cheese was to die for! So so good. I was stuffed. Brought it home for later. Because I'm definitely going to crave it. We will 100% return again.

Delicious BBQ meats, cornbread, and Mac& cheese! Parking is available behind the restaurant/bar. Family friendly. Cover patio seating available.

OMG the beef brisket and the chicken are out of this world delicious. Definitely coming again. Staff is super friendly. 10 points for Katie! And their pecan pie is out of this world delicious and beautiful. Love the environment, it feels really rustic and fun. Def coming back :)

Ksenia is the most incredible chef and would recommend her to anyone for catering. Can’t wait for her to cater my upcoming wedding! Special shout out to Kayla for the great hospitality during our visit and for the delicious food we got to take with us to enjoy!

Awesome BBQ!! Fresh and full of flavor. Upgrade to the brisket.... totally worth it. The staff is super friendly

Super good. Texas style. Not dripping in sauce. Pretty heavy food. More than you need to eat.

This place rocks. Tons of food, great brisket, pulled pork, and chicken, the fries are awesome, and the service was great..5 out of 5.

What an incredible dinner! By far the best brisket I've ever had. I don't really like ribs but I LOVED these ribs and kept stealing them from my husband. Its hard to find bbq places that have such tender meat and a deep smoke flavor. Very friendly staff and it just feels homey here. We just moved to the area and we will definitely be back! Outstanding!

Super great service. Sat down and immediately was given bbq popcorn, which was delicious. Had the sprouts appetizer, even better than the ones I make. My wife had the dry rubbed wings. They were great. I Got the rib sampler, enough for two days and I'm a pretty big eater. All in all a great night was had. Will definitely be back soon.

Ordered a full rack of ribs. Came out very good. Nice crust soft and moist inside. Fall of the bone. The max and cheese had a very good Smokey flavor made it a joy to eat. The sweet tea was fresh. The waitress was very friendly and attentive. The atmosphere was relaxing and comfortable. Will be my new bbq spot beside home.

Up in smoke is definitely the best BBQ in the county! We tried two sampler plates with a total of 4 different sides and six different meats. Everything was delicious! Best onion rings, best corn bread, and best Mac n Cheese I've ever had at a restaurant. I could eat that Mac n Cheese all day long. The meats all had such great flavor from the dry rub, but the sliced brisket and pulled pork was a whole other level of flavor! The appetizer popcorn and paradise tea topped the whole experience to be our new favorite BBQ spot and restaurant in the area! Thank you for the fantastic food, we will definitely be coming back and bringing our friends too!

This place is so delicious! We tried them at Speckled Rock Vineyard when they set up a catering tent. The “sliders” are regular sandwich size and will definitely satisfy your BBQ craving. We got 2 for $16 total plus a bunch of their house seasoned chips. We got a pulled pork slider and a chicken slider, both were juicy and great BBQ flavor. The pulled pork had an awesome smoke on it, that immediately had my husband saving this spot on our Google Maps of places we love. The chips were great, but their seasoning didn’t taste like much. It’s been tough to find actual good BBQ in San Diego, and although this is in San Marcos it is worth the drive! Or visit them when they’re at a vineyard again.

Okay, this is possibly the best restraunt I've ever been to, and I'm not even that big a fan of BBQ. The corn bread is perfect and served hot with so much butter. The service was amazing, honest, and kind. The food was life altering. The food was smokey with no need for sauce. Portion sizes were huge. This is a 30 min drive from my home and I will absolutely be back!! The atmosphere was cozy and fun. There is a deck of cards on everytable. The menu is elaborate to serve anyone.

After a disappointing stop at the place next door, we finally ordered pick up from here and were happy that we did. We shared a two meat plate with baked beans, plus a side of mac and cheese and some cornbread. The mac and cheese and cornbread were great. We got a generous portion of soft whipped butter for the cornbread. The pulled pork was excellent, and the chicken was pretty good as well. They have a different flavor from one another, and I think I would have liked a side of BBQ sauce to add- but that's on me for not asking. For about 30 bucks (with 10% off for the Escondido Eats discount), we had plenty of food and leftovers for two of us. Yes, it's a small place and not as fancy as their neighbors, but the food and the price more than makes up for a lack of wood paneling and TVs. I'm very much looking forward to our next visit!

We just ordered Lunch there from Kayla, who BTW is the BEST EVER!!!!! Also, our 1st time back at Up In Smoke since they reopened & relocated to Escondido. The BBQ is STILL the BEST!!!! We got the brisket with beans, coleslaw & man & cheese! Wow!!!! Couldn’t finish it all, and it was mouthwatering delicious!! Escondido you have a JEWEL in your neighborhood now, take advantage of it! It’s a small place but does have outdoor seating 😃❤️😃 So many things to try out on the menu like Brisket Chili, Yum ❤️ Can’t wait to go back!!!!! Thanks for Reopening ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

My sister and I went out for a lunch date one day and decided to try this place out. We loved it! We decided to order from their catering menu for our parent’s upcoming 60th wedding anniversary party. The party was last night and everyone loved the food! The pulled pork was tender and delicious with just the right amount of barbecue sauce on it. The coleslaw and baked beans were so good. We also got the dry rub, chicken wings, and everyone loved those as well. When my sister and I ate there, we had the smoked potato chips and we loved them so I ordered a big bucket of those. I was surprised that they were not a big hit with the crowd. I thought they were delicious, but I guess they’re not for everyone. The staff were professional and friendly. I communicated by email with them for the order and they were prompt getting back to me with An invoice, etc. The food was ready on time when my brother went to pick it up and packaged well. Definitely Recommend and will order from them again.

Tamria Jones

My sister and I went out for a lunch date one day and decided to try this place out. We loved it! We decided to order from their catering menu for our parent’s upcoming 60th wedding anniversary party. The party was last night and everyone loved the food! The pulled pork was tender and delicious with just the right amount of barbecue sauce on it. The coleslaw and baked beans were so good. We also got the dry rub, chicken wings, and everyone loved those as well. When my sister and I ate there, we had the smoked potato chips and we loved them so I ordered a big bucket of those. I was surprised that they were not a big hit with the crowd. I thought they were delicious, but I guess they’re not for everyone. The staff were professional and friendly. I communicated by email with them for the order and they were prompt getting back to me with An invoice, etc. The food was ready on time when my brother went to pick it up and packaged well. Definitely Recommend and will order from them again.

Mike Krogh

After a disappointing stop at the place next door, we finally ordered pick up from here and were happy that we did. We shared a two meat plate with baked beans, plus a side of mac and cheese and some cornbread. The mac and cheese and cornbread were great. We got a generous portion of soft whipped butter for the cornbread. The pulled pork was excellent, and the chicken was pretty good as well. They have a different flavor from one another, and I think I would have liked a side of BBQ sauce to add- but that's on me for not asking. For about 30 bucks (with 10% off for the Escondido Eats discount), we had plenty of food and leftovers for two of us. Yes, it's a small place and not as fancy as their neighbors, but the food and the price more than makes up for a lack of wood paneling and TVs. I'm very much looking forward to our next visit!

JEFFREY HALES

We just ordered Lunch there from Kayla, who BTW is the BEST EVER!!!!! Also, our 1st time back at Up In Smoke since they reopened & relocated to Escondido. The BBQ is STILL the BEST!!!! We got the brisket with beans, coleslaw & man & cheese! Wow!!!! Couldn’t finish it all, and it was mouthwatering delicious!! Escondido you have a JEWEL in your neighborhood now, take advantage of it! It’s a small place but does have outdoor seating 😃❤️😃 So many things to try out on the menu like Brisket Chili, Yum ❤️ Can’t wait to go back!!!!! Thanks for Reopening ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Food is good here. Service, not so much. They have one of the nicer BBQ in San Diego. It is soft and tender - absolutely delicious. The place is nice and big but they only have one wait staff and they do have signs saying they are short staffed. The lady there is doing a fantastic job but they need to hire more people. The place looks a little bit scrappy with things stacked behind the counter. If you can ignore all that, food is fantastic. Despite the lack of service, I have to give it a 4 star. Hope they improve the service better.

I went on a birthday lunch for my friends sons birthday and there was 6 of us. We went on a Wednesday when it was raining so not lot of people were there. They had only one person serving. She was awesome. She did a great job handling the three groups including us that was there. We got mimosas and beers. Those were great. They have alot of mimosas that I have never seen in my life. I ordered the meat green with brisket and sweet potato fries. The brisket and the fries were great except the greens were bit old. However, everything tasted pretty great and our food and service was never delayed. The waitress was great for handling the restaurant all by herself. She deserves a raise.

Came here for the first time today for lunch. They have an outdoor patio as well as indoor seating, although it is limited. There isn't that much parking directly by the building, but in the plaza there is a decent amount, although it gets full when the place is busy. My coworkers are I ordered 1 entree each, and it took 40 minutes for it to come out, so we had to pack it to go and eat it later. They do have a 10% off right now with a Yelp Check-in. I asked the waiter to apply it to my receipt when I asked for the check, but when the check came it wasn't applied, so I had to ask a second time. As far as the food goes, it was absolutely delicious. This place has free bbq seasoned popcorn and amazing baked beans which are cooked with some meat. The cornbread is also a must have here. I'll definitely come again.

Great barbecue and an extensive beer list, literally hidden behind another business in San Marcos. Marcos. Well worth seeking it out, the meats are smoky and delicious. The service is excellent, and the beer is cold.

*adjustment, despite all the problems, it seemed like they were really understaffed tonight. When I went back to get everything fixed, they were super helpful, gave me $15 off my next visit, and gave me fresh everything. Really really apologetic! It seems like this is not the normal standard. After tasting the food it is incredible! I’m sure when they have enough staff members the service isn’t this chaotic. ——————————————— Food was good, but we waited for an exceptionally long time that the ‘good’ food wasn’t even worth it. We got sliders, and they forgot to add the meat to our order. They left the ice cream out of the deserts. I returned after bringing the food home with my family. I tried calling, and their line was busy (remained busy for 10 minutes), so I drove back and they began fixing my order. Good food, they are just scatter brained and unable to keep up with the volume of orders they have.

Amongst the group the food was good. 3 meat platter good, fed two people and still took enough home to feed 2 more. Sliders good,brisket good macaroni good, fried Brussels sprouts all good. But I do miss Phil's bbq. Could use additional bbq sauce options.

Customer service was great. Food was delicious. I had some mimosas and they were delicious. Only thing was the ribs. They were great in comparison to everything else. We came from Santa clarita and didn't left disappointed

Taniyyus Syed

Food is good here. Service, not so much. They have one of the nicer BBQ in San Diego. It is soft and tender - absolutely delicious. The place is nice and big but they only have one wait staff and they do have signs saying they are short staffed. The lady there is doing a fantastic job but they need to hire more people. The place looks a little bit scrappy with things stacked behind the counter. If you can ignore all that, food is fantastic. Despite the lack of service, I have to give it a 4 star. Hope they improve the service better.

lina najeeb

I went on a birthday lunch for my friends sons birthday and there was 6 of us. We went on a Wednesday when it was raining so not lot of people were there. They had only one person serving. She was awesome. She did a great job handling the three groups including us that was there. We got mimosas and beers. Those were great. They have alot of mimosas that I have never seen in my life. I ordered the meat green with brisket and sweet potato fries. The brisket and the fries were great except the greens were bit old. However, everything tasted pretty great and our food and service was never delayed. The waitress was great for handling the restaurant all by herself. She deserves a raise.

gen saw

Came here for the first time today for lunch. They have an outdoor patio as well as indoor seating, although it is limited. There isn't that much parking directly by the building, but in the plaza there is a decent amount, although it gets full when the place is busy. My coworkers are I ordered 1 entree each, and it took 40 minutes for it to come out, so we had to pack it to go and eat it later. They do have a 10% off right now with a Yelp Check-in. I asked the waiter to apply it to my receipt when I asked for the check, but when the check came it wasn't applied, so I had to ask a second time. As far as the food goes, it was absolutely delicious. This place has free bbq seasoned popcorn and amazing baked beans which are cooked with some meat. The cornbread is also a must have here. I'll definitely come again.

Erik Basil

Great barbecue and an extensive beer list, literally hidden behind another business in San Marcos. Marcos. Well worth seeking it out, the meats are smoky and delicious. The service is excellent, and the beer is cold.

Vee Savage

*adjustment, despite all the problems, it seemed like they were really understaffed tonight. When I went back to get everything fixed, they were super helpful, gave me $15 off my next visit, and gave me fresh everything. Really really apologetic! It seems like this is not the normal standard. After tasting the food it is incredible! I’m sure when they have enough staff members the service isn’t this chaotic. ——————————————— Food was good, but we waited for an exceptionally long time that the ‘good’ food wasn’t even worth it. We got sliders, and they forgot to add the meat to our order. They left the ice cream out of the deserts. I returned after bringing the food home with my family. I tried calling, and their line was busy (remained busy for 10 minutes), so I drove back and they began fixing my order. Good food, they are just scatter brained and unable to keep up with the volume of orders they have.

Curtis Daniels

Amongst the group the food was good. 3 meat platter good, fed two people and still took enough home to feed 2 more. Sliders good,brisket good macaroni good, fried Brussels sprouts all good. But I do miss Phil's bbq. Could use additional bbq sauce options.

Anita Ayala

Customer service was great. Food was delicious. I had some mimosas and they were delicious. Only thing was the ribs. They were great in comparison to everything else. We came from Santa clarita and didn't left disappointed

HUGE portions, very tasty, meat well cooked/smoked. Christine was a fun waitress, you could tell she loves what she does. Took care of our party of 10, and made us feel at home. Will definitely be back.

Really good food. Small and comfortable place.

Meat is great. Broccoli is "steamed" but it's basically raw, if you like this then good for you, i dont though. $4 for fake tea, why even have tea on the menu? Good service, good atomsphere.

Up in Smoke BBQ is a sleeper BBQ spot. A small gem tucked in San Marcos. The wait staff is so, so friendly and the food is delicious! The only reason why I didn't give them 5 stars is because they were out of BBQ (but it was 4th of July!), so we'll have to come back and give it a try.

Due to the restrictions we waited 40 minutes for a table outside.. Margaritas were good appetizer brisket tacos were good. Pork ribs were good. Wings looked great didnt eat them.

Good smoke flavor in all of the meats. All were tasty and tender. BBQ sauce has a strong Worcestershire sauce flavor. Corn bread had a good flavor but was surprisingly cake-like in structure and texture. (Softer than expected from cornbread) The 3 meat platter was sufficient for two people to share. Sweet potato fries have a (too) thick coating of seasoning with a lot of paprika powder. It took away the nice flavor of the sweet potato. The brisket bits, pulled pork and pork ribs all had a good smoke flavor. The brisket being a bit drier, as expected. The pulled pork was moister, again, as expected. The ribs lived up to the description on their menu and did, indeed, fall off the bone. So much so that they were almost impossible to cut and divide without pulling the meat off completely.

Small eclectic place, super nice staff. The portions were generous, much more than we expected. We had the southwest salad with chopped brisket and the meat and greens with brisket. Came with the best onion rings we’ve had.

Brisket and pulled pork were good. BBQ sauce was a bit too sweet for my taste, but it was flavorful. The server that waited on me seemed put out just having to take my to go order. Maybe she was having a bad day...?

Delicious bbq restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. Prompt, friendly service. We ordered the burnt ends, pulled pork sandwich, beef ribs, baked beans, brisket chili, onion rings, wagyu burger and French fries. Food was overall delicious. The baked beans are sweet and savory, there are loaded with chunks of beef and pieces of bacon. Brisket chili was loaded with tender chunks of brisket. Chunky chili definitely not watery. Excellent flavor. Wagyu beef hamburger cooked medium well. Beef ribs are were a tough. Portion sizes are average. Prices are reasonable. Overall, very positive experience

Food was a little on the salty side, parking is limited (but I guess you can park at the business across after hours). Customer service was excellent, we didn't have to wait very long to order or on our order, and portions are bigger than we expected. They have these things called "amaze balls" which are in my opinion, ok. It's pulled pork & chicken wrapped in bacon and then fried which takes away a lot of flavor but, the mac n cheese is delicious and the brisket perfectly done.

Great location and atmosphere. as far as bbq quality - I got the sampler plate and it was lacking. Meat was overcooked. The macaroni was fantastic. Service was ok not great. Overall I might come back here but it's second to many other good places that serve bbq locally.

+1

I was in the mood for BBQ, so we decided to try this new spot. It was good, but could be better. Maybe I just like a different type of BBQ, it just wasn't for me. I wish there was more BBQ sauce options, because the one they had was too tangy. The service was good and the food came out fast, so that was a plus.

B

I was in the mood for BBQ, so we decided to try this new spot. It was good, but could be better. Maybe I just like a different type of BBQ, it just wasn't for me. I wish there was more BBQ sauce options, because the one they had was too tangy. The service was good and the food came out fast, so that was a plus.

The girl who serve me was great. But the other girl who spoke Arabic had an attitude and can't smile at all. I even said a few things in her language but still straight face no smile. Also meal was chatge wrong price. It said side order's were $1.50 more but they charged ne $5.00. Also there is something in the neat that makes you sick with indigestion, heartburn. So thumbs down on this place. BBQ flavor not that good at all especially that in the catchup bottles,and it homemade there.

Great customer service; friendly and they always have a smile on their face, even during covid. Fair prices and generous portions but the barbecue itself is just okay. Went there using a 'local flavor' coupon and probably won't be back.

WARNING: They gave me a discount for a good review, I didn't enjoy the BBQ Ribs, I've had better chain restaurant BBQ food, maybe the other foods ok?? But don't believe reviews, they make you show them the review before you get the discount. DO NOT TRUST REVIEWS

The place was recommended to me so, I went. I don't know if I caught them on an off night but it wasn't as i was told. I wanted the sliced brisket but they only had the chopped. I also tried the chicken as part of a combo. Every bite,you could taste vinegar. I had to use the sauce they gave,which was actually very good,it had a nice smoky sweet flavor. I will have to try them again to see if it was just bad timing but right now, I can only recommend the bacon wrapped poppers, those were spot on!

Really huge portions, price was fair but the meat lacked tenderness. We ordered the brisket and pulled pork and it was pretty dry all throughout. Mac and cheese was yummy and jalapeño poppers were delicious!

Was not impressed 😕 BBQ sauce was not that great sour taste. Got the platter fries and pull pork were good chicken was not that flavorful and dry, also got the rib sampler beef rib was cold and the pork ribs were ok not great, the side order of BBQ beans was good. The service was great can't complain

We were at a table for several minutes before being approached by a waitress and there was only 1 working, so service was slow. It took about 45 minutes to get our food and it was pretty disappointing. The mac and cheese was beyond al dente (very chewy and undercooked). The fries were over fried and over seasoned. The barbecue sandwich was lacking flavor and on a dense and tasteless bun. Won't be back **FOLLOW-UP** I did reach out to the restaurant as they requested and never heard back.

Atmosphere and service were great... The food on the other hand was pretty nothing! Literally 😕 pork ribs were pasty, the sliced beef was dry and the pulled pork was just plain tasteless.. Nice try but missed the mark.

Not busy at all on Wednesday afternoon. Only one other person was there. Some like ribs with a little bite. These were very tender, juicy, fall off the bone. The sliced brisket was also juicy and tender. BBQ is very subjective. I thought the flavor was very different than any other BBQ I've ever had. Unusual, I can't describe it and didn't care for it.

I ordered the kid brisket and corn bread and a side 1/4 rack of ribs. I knew it would be no where as good as Texas BBQ but I didn't think it could be this bad. There was a sour taste to the BBQ sauce - eww - and the only reason I am giving any stars is that the corn bread was ok and the portions of the kids brisket good. THE RIBS had the worst portions for the price. IT was like I knew I was going to be sick by eating this, but was surprised that I didn't get sick. Won't go back ever or recommend this to anyone.

$22 plus tip … brisket sandwich to-go … Loaded with huge chunks of fat… see photos

Poor quality, terrible service and unimaginative food. This is supposed to be a “crazy fries” plate. How about just fries with cheese dumped on top sprinkled with bacon. Certainly not worth the price I paid for them. BBQ was dry, again not worth the price.

We came here for dinner last night and, unfortunately, had a less than desirable experience. Parking is very limited and tight behind the restaurant itself (there is parking around the other establishments that I’m assuming will allow you to park there). It was “seat yourself “, and since we had a group, we waited for one of the larger tables. When the tables didn’t open up, the waitress allowed for 2 smaller tables to be put together. The drink menu offers a variety of cocktails, but when we ordered one, the waitress told us that even though they are on the menu, they do not have the ingredients to make any of them. Beer and wine are available however. It took about 15 minutes to get our drinks, and about 30 minutes before she even took our food order. It was another wait for the food to actually come out. The portions were a good size. The food tasted okay, but, in my own opinion, was not the best. The waitress forgot to place one order, and by the time that meal was brought to the table, everyone else was almost done eating. Even after taking the order a second time, the waitress said they were now out of one of the meats. Another meat was substituted, and when the meal finally arrived, one of the other meats was also missing. What should have been a 3 meat platter, turned out to be a 2 meat platter. The waitress initially said that they would comp the meal and do a free dessert, but then said there wouldn’t actually be a free dessert. The meal was comped, but placed on the wrong bill. Boxes and bags were brought to the table and just tossed down, landing on top of plates that still had food on them. Before we left, the waitress told us that we would need to return our tables to their original places ourselves, because she had to bus the table herself. She did apologize for her mistakes throughout the time we were there, saying she was working an extra shift and was tired. I understand that waiting 2 shifts can be tiring, but good customer service is part of what people pay for, and expect, when they go out. While the food and portion size were good, the customer service was very much less than acceptable. My two stars are for food and portion size. If I were to recommend, it would probably be for take out only - and even then, check your order before you leave.

We really wanted to like this place since there aren’t a lot of great bbq places in Escondido, but the food was just awful, and very expensive. We ordered the two meat plate with pulled pork and brisket, Mac and cheese for the side, and two dinner rolls. The meat was terrible. The brisket tasted like a crock pot meal - it was shredded beef that was chewy, drowning in watery bbq sauce, and had little to no “smoke” flavor. The pulled pork was similar. The rolls were sliced and tasted like Hawaiian king rolls (pretty sure these aren’t made in-house). Since the rolls were sliced they were dry on the inside. They provided a side of butter but it was rock hard and not spreadable. We ended up tossing most of the meal. One plate and the two rolls was $25 (no drinks).

Food was dry and not fresh at all. Asked how old the meat was, they came back saying, the brisket was left under the broiler too long. Brisket should never go under the broiler. Smh. Basically, they are heating up old meat from days ago. Food like this should never be served or consumed. Eating leftover BBQ is not worth going out for - I can do that at home without using the broiler and tasting 1,000x better. Save your $$$ and going anywhere else, but here. Sucks, because I really love BBQ. Hopefully they can change things around and serve fresh quality food; but I doubt it.

Jessica Adams

We really wanted to like this place since there aren’t a lot of great bbq places in Escondido, but the food was just awful, and very expensive. We ordered the two meat plate with pulled pork and brisket, Mac and cheese for the side, and two dinner rolls. The meat was terrible. The brisket tasted like a crock pot meal - it was shredded beef that was chewy, drowning in watery bbq sauce, and had little to no “smoke” flavor. The pulled pork was similar. The rolls were sliced and tasted like Hawaiian king rolls (pretty sure these aren’t made in-house). Since the rolls were sliced they were dry on the inside. They provided a side of butter but it was rock hard and not spreadable. We ended up tossing most of the meal. One plate and the two rolls was $25 (no drinks).

Chris Moreno

Food was dry and not fresh at all. Asked how old the meat was, they came back saying, the brisket was left under the broiler too long. Brisket should never go under the broiler. Smh. Basically, they are heating up old meat from days ago. Food like this should never be served or consumed. Eating leftover BBQ is not worth going out for - I can do that at home without using the broiler and tasting 1,000x better. Save your $$$ and going anywhere else, but here. Sucks, because I really love BBQ. Hopefully they can change things around and serve fresh quality food; but I doubt it.

Food was great, service was great. The only issue I had was that when our order was slightly messed up (we didn’t even notice) one of the front of house mentioned it to the back of house. He immediately was incredulously rude to her, quite loudly actually as we were closer to the front door than we were the kitchen and heard him loud and clear, and referred to her very demeaningly as “sweetie.” The waitress’ response was very professional, which I don’t have the ability to do myself so props to her. As a woman, if your male staff can’t respect your female staff, I do not want to give you my business.

I'm writing this as a queeziness has been setting in in1 my stomach, an hour removed from my dinner at Up n Smoke. This was my second time here almost nine months since my last visit which I remember was decent. However, this time around I ignored a big red flag that I have; even though it was dinner time and the place is off a major road, this place was EMPTY. As I said the last visit was decent so I proceeded to sit and order. I ordered the 3 sampler and the "wagyu" patty melt. The sampler was TERRIBLE the meat (braise chicken, pulled pork,, brisket slices) were microwaved it was dry and looked at least 4 days old, but my stomach at this point would argue that it was older. Needless to say after a bite I had enough and my dog had its most expensive meal thanks to my poor experience. The melt was the highlight of the dinner only because it tasted slightly fresher. Hopefully, I'm one in a few that had a similar experience, as I root for local businesses. I also hope Up n Smoke figures out how to be more efficient with making fresh bbq.

This was my first experience at this restaurant and my last. We ordered braised chicken, ribs, corn bread and pull pork . The best tasting item was the corn bread and all of the meats were dry. The ribs tasted like meat that was boiled and they slapped barbecue sauce on it. The braised chicken and pulled pork was just awful.

This is about the worst service i’ve ever received. The food came out a whole hour later when there was only 2 other tables. I ordered the mac n cheese because my order comes with two meats and a side but the lady didn’t tell me once that it’s $5 for a side of mac n cheese even tho my meal comes with a side. To top it off , the server barely asks me when i’m done with my meal if i wanted any bbq sauce, yah i did maybe like 30 minutes ago!!! If u want bad service and some overpriced food I “highly” recommend this place for u.

I ordered a chicken sandwich from their food truck. The meat smelled like chemical vomit - like the harsh note in spoiled butter. I don’t know if the ingredients were rancid or if there was some part of their cooking process that went wrong - but if you are sensitive to that smell then I suggest looking elsewhere.

There was 1 waiter a 1 bartender. Service was timely but the food was horrible. I have the platter with burt ends and braised chicken with the $5 Mac and cheese. Let's just say the Mac and cheese was not good. It lacked seasoning and looked like it was poured and a tin bowl and sprinkled with shredded cheese and heated. The burnt ends had a gasoline taste to them and the chicken was cold and tasted like it came out of a prepackaged container. The kids plates were very good. They had hotdog French fries and chicken tenders. The fruit punch was nothing but syrup and inedible. I def would not eat here again.

Delicious and tender meats. Update: Last visit me and my S.O. did not feel well after eating here. I don't know what happened, but they slid in quality big time, very disappointing. I guess that's why the restaurant closed down.

Wings come in bags. And seasoned with all purpose flavoring. That's it! Kitchen is gross. Meat left unattended. Everything comes in bags here! Don't see the big deal about this place! Kitchen was absolutely disgusting! I'm sure there are far better REAL BBQ restaurants nearby compared to this hidden dump.

Menu online states 12.99 for up in smoke sandwich, which includes fries. We ordered 4 of them and no drinks and the rude woman who answered the phone quoted us over 100$. When we asked why it was that much she said "our online menu hasn't been updated since before covid, our prices are definitely higher now." I asked her if it was the same portion size and she said yes. Be careful when ordering from here. How have you not updated your menu for 2 years when you have doubled your prices? Shady behavior

They should rename this place NoSmoke BBQ...I came for dinner and got the brisket sandwich and couldn’t get past 2 bites even after not eating all day. The meat was dry, had a faint flavor of some sort of spices though I can’t really tell you exactly what the flavor is but it wasn’t good and it had zero smoke flavor. I don’t know where they are cooking the brisket but it’s not on a real smoker. There’s also not a hint of smoke in the air near the place giving off the unmistakable smell of a true smokehouse.

Just go to Churchill’s next door. We came here for Father’s Day with a 12pm reservation. Sat for about 45 minutes before our server took our order. Was told that the kitchen was so backed up that she wasn’t going to bother taking it. Our server’s name was Briana. Her attitude throughout the entire 2 hours we were there was rude and very dismissive. That we were inconveniencing her. I honestly think we would have enjoyed the food more had the service and wait for food (over 1.5 wait) been better.

Yep..... not real BBQ. It was my first time trying it. Not pleased at all. When my husband picked up the food they told him that the full rack we ordered was not up to their standards. They gave him the option of paying 50% off for the ribs or ordering something else. We went with the discount because we really wanted to try the food. Once we got home we realized they forgot to give us the coleslaw that we ordered and the cornbread we got was so small. Tiny rectangular shape corn bread that tastes a but stale. The ribs tasted like they use liquid smoke, bake the ribs in the oven, then finish them off on the grill. NOT GOOD. I really wanted to like this place but it wasn't good. It reminded me so much of the way PHIL'S BBQ taste. Fight me all you want but PHIL'S BBQ is gross!!! This place needs to use real smokers and work on the flavor of their food. The service was great it's just the food that needs work

Very disappointing. The brisket was so tough we couldn't chew it. Seriously, stringy and tough. The beef ribs and pork ribs were inedible and had a weird mealy consistency. The coleslaw tasted old and smelled like broccoli. The only positive was the onion rings. They were some of the best I've ever had. One item was left off the order but after trying the food, I'm grateful. I have all the food items hours later but nobody in my 6 person household is interested. If this place was good I could forgive the steep prices but it's a big NOPE for me

Straight up toxic food. This review is for the food truck. Their potato chips tasted like straight-up gasoline and propane. You bite into it and a cloud of gas poofs in your mouth and back of throat. Disgusting. Did they cook their chips on a high propane gas grill? That seems unnecessary. Some cheap bagged store-bought chips would have been better. I feel bad that the kids ate it too, but we spent over $50 for 3 meals and we had to throw away most of it as our burps tasted like propane coming up and making us sick. I can’t believe they’d serve that to so many food truck customers. The meat was mediocre, doused in sauce with no real smoked flavor. Service was mediocre too, nice lady but forgot the drinks and the side that I had to ask for. Maybe she was overwhelmed so I give her the benefit of the doubt. Serving mounds of propane potato chips oughta be a health hazard. I regret not going to the other food truck, but didn’t expect to taste gasoline. Not even wood chips taste. Gasoline.

Jake R

Straight up toxic food. This review is for the food truck. Their potato chips tasted like straight-up gasoline and propane. You bite into it and a cloud of gas poofs in your mouth and back of throat. Disgusting. Did they cook their chips on a high propane gas grill? That seems unnecessary. Some cheap bagged store-bought chips would have been better. I feel bad that the kids ate it too, but we spent over $50 for 3 meals and we had to throw away most of it as our burps tasted like propane coming up and making us sick. I can’t believe they’d serve that to so many food truck customers. The meat was mediocre, doused in sauce with no real smoked flavor. Service was mediocre too, nice lady but forgot the drinks and the side that I had to ask for. Maybe she was overwhelmed so I give her the benefit of the doubt. Serving mounds of propane potato chips oughta be a health hazard. I regret not going to the other food truck, but didn’t expect to taste gasoline. Not even wood chips taste. Gasoline.