4030 Goldfinch St
San Diego, CA 92103 (619) 688-0559
The original Mission Hills Phil's BBQ is stuff of lore. Ask anyone in San Diego where the best BBQ is and they will tell you of some place near Hillcrest where the waits are long but the food is worth it. Phil uses real smoke and some neighbors complain about the smell. Thankless bluebeards or vegetarians (i'm really not sure!) Someone tries to do it right and they want to crucify him.
I wanted to put together a group of people to start trying out some new places and this one was new to me. A few friends from work were up for the adventure and so it was eventually scheduled for a Thursday night. Loyal customers have been going to this place for years, some probably remember when the restaurant was still a house. They told me that the wait could be over an hour, and you probably want to call in your order. If you find a table, you should jump towards it with your elbows out ready to lay anyone out in your way. This is serious business.
3 cars and 5 people headed down there in their own ways and found a busy place with a short line and our food ready. Corn was good but nothing special, fries are ok, beans ok, onion rings... ok, cole slaw ok. I was rather surprised when I heard that they sell a thing called chickless. I guess it's perfect if you think that chickens have nuggets. While the meat was rather dry and tasteless, the sauce was bright, tangy, and abundant. Too abundant. In fact, I was wondering if there was any real point to Phil's other than his mastery of the sauce. The flavor was wonderfully complementary to the spice rub used on the ribs - there is some good flavor in there, it's a shame that the meat has to swim in it. It is too much of a good thing.
The mess that you make is easily washed off at the sink in the dining area so you don't have to put your paws on a bathroom door. The decor and wood keeps you entertained and there's a charm to a small converted house that has rooms.
B
