Steven Michel

This was our first time at Grand Ole. The food was certainly not a disappointment! We had the tri tip & the brisket sandwiches. Both were tender and flavorful. My husband had the white beans as a side & liked them. I had the mac & cheese for my side. It was just standard mac & cheese...nothing great, just okay. Beer selection was good! Staff were helpful & the place was clean. We'll be back.

Sydney Goldrick

Love the flavors and the great options at this BBQ spot! The ambiance is super fun, feels like a spot you would go in Austin. Everyone is super nice, and there are tons of beer options. We’ve been coming here for a while, and it’s always amazing. Recently, we got the brisket sandwich and the smash burger to share – both were fantastic. Highly recommend!

First time here. Ordered the brisket sandwich and wasn’t swayed either way to be great or awful, just in the middle. I was told the brisket is precut, thus not getting the freshest or fattiest choice. Meat was dry, far from moist. After the fact, I was told I could order sliced moist brisket next time. The two sauces I had were ok, nothing stood out. The small side of coleslaw was lukewarm, almost warm, which in my opinion, not a great taste. Coleslaw should be served cold. Manager/owner (not sure), heard I wasn’t satisfied with my meal and offered another sandwich, which I turned down only because I just finished my meal. Professional staff…that’s the way to do it and would definitely bring me back for another try. Ice cream cone is very good and has a cool vibe.

Pretty good BBQ overall, worth a trip if you're craving some BBQ. Meat Highlight was the pulled pork and beef ribs, but we actually liked the slaw, beans, and beer better than all of the meat. Service was quick and helpful, and the meeting was cool. Good vibes all around

Dan

Very good but short of exceptional BBQ. One of the best I’ve had outside of Texas. Reminder: Don’t forget to specify point vs flat end of the brisket! The meal didn’t quite scratch the itch that was planted in me when I had BBQ in Texas — though almost everything was good, the bark on brisket wasn’t really anywhere close to what it needed to be. I liked how they were able to fish out some smaller sized beef ribs; some other places only have enormous ones and those aren’t ideal if you want to have a taste without over-ordering. Meat was very smoky. Never thought I’d say it but some may find it too smoky, given that I could still smell it on myself half a day later. Personally, I’m not sure how I feel about it. Flavor and tenderness were both pretty good. All around an enjoyable experience even if it didn’t send me to BBQ nirvana. Atmosphere is nice and welcoming, and staff are all very friendly.

Christopher Gorrie

I give this Grand Ole BBQ location ~4.5/5 stars. 5 for service, 4.5 for food, and 4 for atmosphere. I came here for the first time last week with my extended family (Thanksgiving time). There were 5 of us, and we ordered ribs, brisket, tri-tip, green beans, cole slaw, a smashburger, a wedge salad, and a brisket-cheesesteak sandwich. It was probably too much food 😂 but everything was pretty good. My favorite items were the brisket cheesesteak sandwich, smashburger, wedge salad, and brisket. The ribs and tri-tip were good, but the rub on the ribs was kind of excessively salty. The total for this huge order was around $150, which isn’t too crazy for the amount of food, but is still a somewhat pricey dinner. The atmosphere is alright. It’s like a big open area with tables, like a meal hall kind of. The only issue is that during g the winter months it gets pretty cold and you kind of have to partially freeze while eating. The service is pretty high-quality though. The bartender and cashier made a serious effort to welcome every guest, maintain consistent attitude and level of service, and strike a balance between speed and attention.

+4

Chen Dow

Good quality BBQ served in a relaxed outdoor setting where you have to fend off flies. You order from a window, find a spot among regular or community tables to sit, and they buzz your pager when your food is ready. The staff were friendly and the wait was short. We liked the fact that you can order meats by the quarter pound. The brisket was more tender than the lamb shoulder as expected. We also liked that they were both very light in taste so you can choose from the 5-6 types of BBQ sauces they offer, or just salt and pepper if you prefer. There were enough flies to force everyone focus on his food all the time, but we eventually failed and the flies landed on our meat. What a shame.

+3

Alex Chipman

This spacious, open-air restaurant is perfect for warm summer nights. With plenty of seating and ample space for kids to run around, it’s a great spot for families and large groups. The food is delicious, and portions are generous—so come hungry! I do wish the brisket had a smokier, saltier flavor, but nothing a salt shaker can’t fix. Overall, highly recommended for a casual and enjoyable dining experience.

Nice BBQ restaurant in a residential neighborhood of North Park. Loved the outdoors, cozy eating area but the meat was so dry. The beer wasn't that great. Service was sub par. Not going back there.

Josselin Martinez

I always visit the Flinn Springs location, so most of this review is in comparison to my experiences there. The overall customer service was lacking - the ordering process was unclear, and the single worker in the seating area watched us struggle for a few minutes before stepping in to show us where to order and pick up our food. The food was ready quickly (about 5 minutes after ordering), but unfortunately, the quality fell short to Flinn Springs's. The brisket and pulled pork were dry and the fries were missing flavor. I understand that the customer experience is largely a do-it-yourself situation, but a little more attention to guests would go a long way. Also, more visible signage with ordering instructions would make new customers feel at ease.😊

Roman Mueller

This was a great spot with a very fun atmosphere, like most BBQ spots. Unfortunately,the sandwiches under delivered. The brisket and pulled pork were both pretty dry, I definitely couldn’t eat it without chugging down water. The fries were fantastic. Maybe it was just the wrong day.

Dan Lackey

This was just okay for me. For California, it's pretty good. Couldn't sense any smoke flavor at all. Brisket had a decent smoke ring, but the ribs didn't. It seems like they seasoned the pulled pork after it was pulled and it was a little salty. Ribs pulled clean off the bone, but again no smoke flavor. I don't really use bbq sauce because I like the smoke flavor so much. The sauces were decent. Service was good, so there's that. If you've only had barbecue in California, you'll probably like this place. If you've had barbecue in Kansas City, Texas, Oklahoma, or the Carolinas, you probably won't like this place. Definitely not horrible, but I won't be back.

Martin Roberts

I do like BBQ and so headed to 'Grand Ole BBQ Y Asado' for dinner when in San Diego for a couple of nights... I had Brisket, Beef Rib and Pork Ribs, with Slaw and Potato Salad as sides, with a Diet Coke. The Brisket was very nice but the Ribs were average compared to other BBQ I've had in the USA. Cost wasn't cheap either with my meal coming in at $70. All in all it was okay, but I'd not rush back.

Perla Limon

The meat is great, I got 3 brisket sandwiches, but for $17?? The sandwiches were tiny and not worth the price. It took 2 to fill me up. The sides were utterly disappointing. The cole slaw is stale, and was likely prepared too early and not preserved properly, and the white beans with bacon just tasted like oversalted beans. No bacon in sight. All in all, disappointed. It's a waste of great beef brisket. We won't be returning. Nothing against the customer service. The place looks great, and the workers are doing their best, but the prices are too high for a location that serves slightly above average meat, and flavorless sides.