The Smok'd Hog - San Diego

The Smok 'd Hog restaurant has recently closed, but they left a note thanking everyone for an amazing 4 years.

We tried the pulled pork sandwich and smoked turkey sandwich, and both were delicious. The restaurant offers a variety of BBQ sauces to choose from. However, I...

A unique BBQ gem in the heart of San Diego. The brisket and pulled pork steal the show, so be sure to stick with those menu options when making your selection.

This inconspicuous place is one of my absolute favorite BBQ in San Diego. Having lived in North Carolina for four years, I have very high standards when it comes to BBQ, especially when it comes to pork. While a few other BBQ joints have standout briskets such as Grand Ole BBQ or Coop's, none of those places come close to touching The Smok'd Hog's pulled pork. The pulled pork here is smoked to perfection, lightly smoke kissed and tender without the slightly stinky smell that pork can sometimes have. This type of pulled pork is exactly what you might have in North Carolina--it's perfect in a sandwich, and also perfect on its own in a plate. They also have a great selection of BBQ sauces to go with their meats and on the pulled pork sandwich. I can't speak to the authenticity of the NC sauce, but even in NC itself, there is a variety of different sauces as well, and to be honest the most famous east Carolina sauce is probably way too much vinegar for anyone who is not a native from there. The other sauces here are good, and with the large selection I'm sure there's one to fit each person's tastes. In addition to the pork, the pulled chicken is very good as well. It's smokey and not too dry. It's also pulled, which distinguishes it from the BBQ chicken at some other places. After having it in the sandwich with the Alabama white sauce, I had to order an extra half pound of it to go to eat it at home later! The Cubano here is also quite delicious and has great flavors. The collard greens have a good meat flavor with a touch of bitterness for balance, and the mac and cheese here has a cheesy texture and good taste without being overly heavy or salty. Overall, if I lived closer to this place, I'd probably eat it every week. If you like pulled pork, there is no place in San Diego better than here!

I had the most fantastic BBQ food of my life at this restaurant! The K.C sauce is incredible! The service was friendly, the food was amazing, and both the chef and the woman at the register were so welcoming. I highly recommend it!