Smokey and The Brisket BBQ opened in 2021 in a 5,000-square-foot space on Lake Murray Boulevard, bringing Texas-style low-and-slow barbecue to La Mesa's Lake Murray corridor with a "Smokey and the Bandit"-themed interior. Natural Black Angus prime brisket is dry-rubbed and smoked over a blend of hardwoods for 12 hours, producing a bark-to-smoke-ring profile that anchors a protein roster also including dino ribs, pulled pork, pulled chicken, and maple-glazed smoked salmon—a breadth distinct from the raw-fish and sushi focus at nearby Banbu Sushi Bar & Grill off Lake Murray Boulevard. Car-culture décor fills the dining room with booth seating upholstered in automotive-style vinyl, a Firebird hood replica, and classic movie posters, while a rear arcade room stocks vintage cabinets, a pool table, and pinball. The jalapeño mac and cheese topped with burnt ends has become a signature side, and house-made sauces span a tangy original BBQ and a habanero BBQ for heat seekers—condiments that pair well with the sandwich-and-side lunch format at grab-and-go spots like Gold Coast Bagel Co in the area. The most complex single plate—the meatloaf dinner—combines ground chuck, smoked prime brisket, and smoked pork belly in a Texas-style recipe finished with Texas sausage gravy over mashed potatoes.