Phils BBQ San Diego - When will it reopen?
I had a craving for some ribs over the weekend and called up Phils to place my order to find out that they're currently closed so that they can focus on opening up their Point Loma location. Maybe this is old news but I haven't been to Phils for a few months. Anyways, the phone recording did not mention when they might reopen their Hillcrest location or when the new Point Loma location will be open. Does anyone have any insider info about when it might be?
Also, I remember reading here that they were planning on doing "real" BBQ over an open pit at their new location since they aren't allowed to have one in Hillcrest. Anyone know if this is true? If so, it seems like I will be going to the Point Loma location from now on.
mliew
Jan 29, 2007 03:35PM
from what i read, end of jan. to beginning of Feb.
http://clayfood.blogspot.com
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Have you tried Huffmans.
The resteraunt has a lot of history. Mr. Huffman has since past away, but it is still good.
They have no atmosphere, a couple of picnic tables, it is really a take-out place. They have lots of choices, including fried chicken, that is not prepared until you order it and fish too.
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
5039 Imperial Ave
San Diego, CA 92113
(619) 264-3115
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My family had Huffmans BBQ one day and Phils the next, and we found (much to our surprise!) Phils to be less expensive a better. We were big fans of Fargo before it went Carribean.
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I cant believe you can say this. Perhaps on the individual dinners (MAYBE), but I used to get catering for my office. a rack at phils is $20.
Basically $80 at huffmans fed 8 ppl and then Id have 1/2 left over for the weekend (uh-oh)
while 4 racks at phils feeds exactly 4 ppl.
I can honestly say that phils in MH will prolly NOT reopen. Why bother?
You go Phil - Long way from organizing mac 3 blades eh??
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They always close in January for rest and cleaning up the restaurant. Living near by, we miss it terribly. They'll be back Feb 1.
Gil
www.whatwedig.com - restaurant reviews and more.
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Phil's was supposed to reopen this week but, obviously, didn't make it. They're currently shooting for next week. Also, while the meat will be cooked over an open flame, I'm not sure if it will really fit the "open pit" description.
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I just happen to work at Phil's and just wanted to share that they will reopen the mission hills place about 2 weeks or so after they get the sports area location up and running
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Peter - when will the Sports Arena site be open?
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It opens tommorow
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who cares - its not real BBQ anyway :)
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I heard a rumor that they'll have an actual pit at the new location.
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who cares if something is authentic or not as long people like it.
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what makes bbq authentic?
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Long and slow cooking over hickory (or in some parts of the country oak)
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I was being a bit sarcastic - but it the lack of authenticity lies in the lack of smoke. There are a number of different hard woods that make good ribs and that's a whole other argument.
I do hope that their new location haas a pit. I have no doubt that they are capable of good BBQ but the original location apparently doesn't let them use real smoke (smell complaints?). Despite the lack of authentic flavor, they do have a good chew to them - not too tough, not too overcooked.
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I love Smoked bbq. Phils only gets smoke on the grill. However, how many places in town cook over real wood? I can't think of many. Phils tastes good. It gets real wood burning treatment at the finish. I used to be in the bbq catering business and I slow smoked but always finished over flame cuz crispy outside is good. Keep up the good work Phil, Californians can't handle heavy smoke so Phils fits the bill.
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Abbie's Real Texas BBQ cooks over wood. I don't know which Californians you are referring to. Some of us like the taste of authentic Q.
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Sante Fe BBQ (Encinitas) > Big Jim's BBQ (Encinitas) > Real Texas BBQ > Lightnin' Jacks BBQ (Clairemont Square) > BBQ place on Newport in OB > Phil's
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Interesting. Haven't been to Santa Fe, sounds like I need to go. Not really a huge fan of Big Jim's though. Abbie's brisket blows theirs away.
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Santa Fe is out of business.
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Anybody ever tried Hoggs Beach BBQ in La Jolla and San Marcos
http://www.hoggsbeach.com/
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I can't see how you possible rate Lightning Jacks BBQ higher than Phils. That place is probably one of the worst BBQ places I've ever been to. The pork ribs I ordered there once were obviously precooked and reheated (probably in a microwave). They were tough, dry, and flavorless. I've also had the pulled pork sandwich and while it was edible, it was certainly nothing special.
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Yeah I agree with you on all counts. Lightnin' Jack's is very average, Phil's is definitely better.
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I went to Phil's new location last night, and thought it was definitely better than what I'd had previously at their Mission Hills location. Good, but still not authentic or anything resembling real BBQ. I'd still rate Big Jim's and Real Texas over Phil's (too bad about Santa Fe BBQ). Depending on what you order at Lightnin' Jacks, it can be acceptable, Phil's ribs are definitely better, though I wouldn't have said that about the Phil's Mission Hills, maybe equal at best. I really don't think Phil's is all that, a fairly average random BBQ joint in West Texas would kick it up one side of the street and down the other. And I really don't care for Phil's sauce, which they slather on everything.
FWIW, Real Texas has been up and down over the years as well, I think the new owners finally figured out how not to totally dry out their meat about two years ago.
Anyway, I can still make better real BBQ on my gas grill with wood chips than any of the above.
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Yeah my recollections of Abbie's way back when I first tried them in the mid-'90s was that their meat was very dry. However on recent visits, the brisket has been nice and moist. The chicken still sucks, though, and their sauce is lame.
I agree with you, too, on Phil's sauce. My favorite thing to get there is the burger, and always without sauce.
I've ordered their ribs without sauce, cooked dry as they call it, and they are ten times better. The rub they put on the outside crusts up nicely and you get much more of the meat flavor without all that sauce covering it up.
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Hey Josh, Any recommendations for Abbie's?
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Brisket, pulled pork, hot links. Brisket is easily their best item, IMO.
AVOID THE CHICKEN. Dried out, terrible - at least it's been the few times I tried it. I have since learned my lesson.
My only complaint w/ Abbie's is that their sauce is just OK. I'm not a fan. Normally I get my brisket to-go, and use some of my Rudy's sauce on it.
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Thanks for the tip. Had lunch there today and the brisket was excellent. We also thought the pork ribs were good as well.
Not much for the beans and corn-on-the-cob.
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Yeah, that matches my experience. My s.o. and I basically view Abbie's as a good place to get meat. I'll go and pick up a pound of the brisket, and we'll eat that for dinner over the next 2 days with our own sides and sauce.
It's kind of a shame that their other items aren't so good. If they ever got their act together on the sauce and sides it'd be perfect.
I'll have to try the pork ribs sometime - don't think I've had them there.
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By the way... Santa Fe BBQ in Encinitas shut down for the last 6 months...
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They're open, but all I've gotten is busy signals when I call their number:
3750 sports arena blvd
619-226-6333
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Phil's is open!!! The Mission Hills location is closed temporarily. Head down to check it out! www.sandiegotraveltips.com
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UPDATE: Phil's -Pt. Loma is OPEN! Mission Hills is closed until March.
Mission Hills has 100 seat capacity--- new Phil's? 400 total. They now have a swanky new place.... a separate bar area serving local and other beers on tap. Stand in line, order and sit anywhere you like--inside or out, bar or restaurant. When your order is ready, you'll be signaled by a buzzing remote gizmo. Sunday, Feb 19- 12-1pm SLAMMED...with business. Beware of events at the Sports Arena and the Swap Meet.........because Phil's will be FILLED! Remember: Phil's is closed on Mondays. Open til 9 every night but Fri/Sat when they are open til 10pm. If you love Mission Hills, then there is more to love at Sports Arena. Oh... and there are lots of parking places. Can't place the new location? Picture: Red Lobster, Yakatori, and Men's Fashion Depot strip mall...east side of Sports Arena Blvvd, just north of the Sports Arena (iPayOne) complex. Enjoy! www.sandiegottraveltips.com
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Real local beers? Or Karl Strauss swill?
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Phil is an amateur when it comes to great bbq.
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Josh,
Stone, Alesmith, BallastPoint , Karl, Coronado..... and others... on two cobra head taps.
sdtips
www.sandiegotraveltips.com
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Chick fil a and phil's in a one mile radius?
dreams do come true
http://clayfood.blogspot.com
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i went to Phil's today.
the service is 50x quicker than it used to be. But it has to accommodate the 20 people waiting in line to take their order.
i like the new location!
http://clayfood.blogspot.com
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By service do you mean the time it takes for them to actually cook your food?
Is it still a good idea to call ahead to order or is the waiting time much shorter than it is at their Mission Hills location?
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Their grill is about 3-4x larger than it was before with significantly more people working.
It used to be 1 guy packing your food, and 2 guys cooking and 1 cashier.
Now its about 4-5 cashiers, 6-8 people cooking, 3 people packing, and 2 people calling out orders.
So the speed is now significantly quicker cause food is being churned out so much faster.
So you can call ahead if you'd like, but my wait time was no more than 2 minutes, which was rather nice.
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Does the new location have real BBQ as opposed to what was being served at the Mission Hills location?
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Amen
What they served in Mission Hills was in no way bbq.
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They are open and they do serve BBQ my friends. Loosen those belts and give it another shot!
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I am from Memphis, TN and I am looking for a good BBQ joint. I am very skeptical about trying BBQ out here since Memphis is know for it's BBQ, it is authentic and GREAT. Anyone know a good place near Carlsbad.
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If you're looking for authentic Memphis style BBQ, then no. I don't remember if Big Jim's in Encinitas tries to do Memphis style, but that might be worth a try, though I wouldn't have high expectations. There's a new chain-type place in North County, Joey's IIRC, that might try to do it also. I think you'd be disappointed with any of the other places that have been mentioned. Anyway, let us know if you find anyplace... ;-)
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Thanks, I have heard about Big Jim's. I'll give them a try. I've had a few people tell me not to eat the BBQ out here and I don't know why. I'm always up for trying food prepared in a different way.
Thanks again.
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Whatever you do...... DO NOT go to Jim's
Awful!
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Thanks for the warning.
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OK, since I'm the one who's been recommending Big Jim's, I guess I need to take one for the team and find out if I'm crazy or just out of touch. I'll try it again, hopefully next week, and if everyone is right, I'll say my mea culpa.
;-)
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if you're so skeptical why bother? o_O dont want your great memphis authentic and GREAT tastes insulted by our crappy SD bbq.
sarcasm aside, look up a few posts i think they have a list of places people like.
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The only reason I am skeptical is because the people here in SD county have made me feel that way. I can't say it would insult Memphis bbq until I try it. I'll let you know.
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I am no expert in BBQ but Barnes BBQ claims to be Memphis style and the one time is was there it was quite good.
http://www.sdreader.com/php/rrshow.ph...
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I wanted to go there again before posting since I went after a 7hr in the car ordeal on the way back from Mexico, and was a little too cranky to focus on the food.
I thought the pulled pork was pretty dry, however with good flavor. The yams were great if you like them sweet, like I do. People working there were very friendly as well.
Definitely worth another try when I could give it a fair chance.
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I grew up in socal, but I did go to school in St. Louis, while not Memphis, St. Louis does have some decent Q. and I think that big jims is is a sorry excuse for bbq. I have not been back for a couple of years because it was so bad it was not worth the calories. Tony Romas was better. Maybe they have improved. I have not tried Joey's and honestly with the state of bbq in north county, I am leery. The Texas bbq place in Encinitas that closed was no great shakes, and it wont be missed.
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The pulled pork at Big Jim's is probably their best item. Can't speak to either the chicken or ribs. Santa Fe's pulled pork and ribs were fine the times I went there. Perhaps I was lucky. I've never seen chicken on the menu at a real BBQ place, and it's not something I'd ever think to order at a BBQ joint.
Like I said above, I can cook better BBQ (pulled pork, baby back ribs, spareribs or brisket) on my gas grill than any of the places mentioned. Which isn't saying much about my BBQ abilities and says even less about any of the places mentioned.
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I've seen both chicken and turkey at BBQ places in Texas.
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Turkey definitely. I don't ever remember seeing chicken on the menu at a BBQ joint with a pit.
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I saw chicken at Rudy's, Cousin's, Sonny Bryan's, and Dickey's (basically every place I had BBQ in Texas). All those are pit BBQ places.
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You're right. I't's probably a psychological blind-spot. I should have said I've never had anything labelled "BBQ chicken" over the years that I thought was worth revisiting (and the three issues with it on this thread would seem to confirm that opinion), so it's something I don't even acknowledge seeing on the menu. Since chicken isn't really a signature meat of any particular style of BBQ, it seems to me more like an afterthought in most BBQ restaurants.
Have you had any version of "BBQ chicken" that you thought was worthy?
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