Cali BBQ Opening at Navy Exchange Food Court

Cali BBQ is preparing to open a new location inside the NEX Food Court at the Naval Base San Diego at 2260 Callagan Hwy, San Diego, CA 92113 .

The Spring Valley-based BBQ restaurant also operates from Hancock Kitchens in Sports Arena and the Aztec Food Hub near San Diego State University. Now, owner Shawn Walchef is getting ready to open a new brick-and-mortar inside the Navy Exchange Food Court, which was announced at the beginning of the year. Other eateries found in the food court include Pizza Hut, Starbucks, Subway, Panda Express, Cold Stone, Five Guys, and Rubio’s Coastal Grill.

Walchef, a San Diego native, has always had a special connection to the military. Over the years, the charitable restaurant has given back to those who serve in the military by feeding sailors at the Holiday Bowl, working with the Navy Seals, donating services to the Wounded Warrior Project on the Navy Hospital Base, and more. Now, the company will provide even more for the military with a new location in the NEX Food Court. There is no exact timeline for the opening, but Walchef posted at the beginning of April that the company is now hiring for all positions for both the new location and the Spring Valley site at 8910 Troy Street.

“For people in the hospitality business this is the greatest honor,” Walchef said at the beginning of the year in an announcement. “To be able to slow-smoke brisket and pulled pork and bring the things we’ve been working on for so long to the men and women on base is something that’s truly an honor for us.”

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