After more than three years on hiatus, Grand Ole BBQ y Asado has finally reopened its original location in San Diego's North Park.
Founded by San Diego native Andy Harris, a longtime pitmaster who learned his trade spending summers in Texas, Grand Ole BBQ y Asado was lining up hungry patrons since opening its Central Texas-style barbecue hut in Fall 2015. In early 2019, Grand Ole teamed up with San Diego's Social Syndicate restaurant development group, known for such projects as Bootlegger, Resident Brewing, Wonderland, The Rabbit Hole, OB Surf Lodge, The Local Downtown & Pacific Beach and the second location of Blue Water Seafood Market & Grill. Together, they launched a 15,000 square-foot, second outpost of Grand Ole BBQ in San Diego's East County community of Flinn Springs. Around the same time, in February 2019, Grand Ole BBQ y Asado closed in North Park, citing a need to perform renovations on the quaint building. In 2021, Grand Ole BBQ opened a location inside Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres.
After a long dormancy, Grand Ole BBQ y Asado officially reopened its North Park location this week. The restaurant has undergone a remodel and expansion, now occupying the entire building. In addition to a new 20 tap beer bar, dubbed the Toro Islander Bar in honor of late San Diego icon Nate Soroko, there is also a full kitchen allowing for an expanded menu to include a selection of vegan items like tacos, sandwiches, burgers and chili. There is also a "top secret" ice cream bar with ice cream sundaes and Dole whips and an expanded wine list, as well as three walk up ordering windows to keep lines shorter. The menu will continue to offer an extensive selection of Texas-style barbecue smoked meats available by the pound or in sandwich form, as well as comforting side dishes. The Sunday Asado specials will also eventually return, as well as the BYOB policy one day a week.
Grand Ole BBQ y Asado is now open at 3302 32nd Street in San Diego's North Park community. For more information, visit grandolebbq.com.
