Craig’s Smokehouse & BBQ

The food here is not seasoned and barely edible. The ribs we got were undercooked and the bread hard and stale.

I’m calling BS. This place doesn’t exist and walk around town and asking locals proves it.
an I Internet search turns up another smokehouse which wasn’t that good.

I stopped in Julian on my way back to live in San Diego after being away for most of 20 years. It happened I had to make a «pit stop» and it turned out to be a BBQ pit sampling stop. Craig was great to meet and for his meat. I didn’t buy that day (3 weeks ago), but today I honored my promise to return. It was simply the best BBQ I have had in memory. I ordered the sampler plate, which is really meant for two. I have plenty of leftovers and they definitely won’t go to waste. The ribs were so tender — and LOTS OF MEAT ON THEM that they were falling off the bone. The pulled pork was superb and the chicken was equally so. The BBQ sauce, well, that’s what make it really BBQ. Oh, and I mustn’t forget the BBQ beans or cole slaw. Those BBQ beans had me hooked before the first taste went down the hatch. The cole slaw is fresh and not loaded with mayo.
On top of it, Craig is just a great guy to talk to. What is clear is that he is running his smokehouse because he LOVES it. He takes pride in food he cooks. He told me (and taste seemed to confirm this) that he doesn’t add salt. That doesn’t mean it needed salt, it means that everything was balanced so you didn’t need salt. Craig is a great host as well as chef. I felt like I was welcomed into his dining room as a dinner guest. Will I go back? You bet, and I’ll take as many people with me as I can!

Pizza is fine but go for the pulled pork sandwich. Craig the butcher is a very competent bbq pitmaster. His pulled pork sammy is the best i ever had. He will even tell u his recipes. I highly recommend it and hes a very nice fellow.