Qfire Catering — Live-Fire BBQ & Steakhouse Catering in Phoenix, Scottsdale & San Diego County
Qfire Catering — Live-Fire BBQ & Steakhouse Catering in Phoenix, Scottsdale & San Diego County
Bride and groom celebrating at a flower-lined sweetheart table

Qfire Catering · Chef Terry “The BBQ Daddy” Matthews

San Diego wedding catering. Your celebration, beautifully served.

From a coastal celebration in La Jolla to a North County reception, explore the Steakhouse Experience, Wood-Fired BBQ or Mexican BBQ Fusion. We’ll help you choose the food and professional service that suit your wedding, with clear San Diego County pricing and room for your budget.

Steakhouse full-service buffet $84.00/guest · BBQ & Fusion food packages from $16.99/guest. Tax, gratuity and selected extras additional.

As seen on Food NetworkChef Terry Matthews
Food Network featured chef

4.9/5 · 400+ reviewsCumulative across review platforms

Catering since 2011
Reply within 4 business hours

Customer reviews

Three ways to make dinner yours

The menu should feel like your wedding.

A steakhouse dinner, a beautifully presented BBQ reception or a bright Mexican fusion spread—each is a deliberate choice, not a compromise. Start with the flavors you love; we’ll help with the practical details.

Charcoal-grilled steaks, salmon, lobster tail and shrimp with a loaded baked potato and asparagus on a wooden serving board

Steakhouse Experience

A steakhouse dinner without leaving your San Diego reception. Live-charcoal cooking and thoughtful presentation bring a restaurant-style meal to your celebration.

$84.00 buffet · $99.00 family style · $114.00 plated

Per guest · full-service package · 40-guest minimum · tax, gratuity and upgrades extra

Ribeye Steak, New York Strip and Grilled Salmon are representative choices. Filet Mignon and Lobster Tails carry listed upgrades.

What’s included: 3 proteins + 3 sides, 1 chilled and 1 hot appetizer, 2 desserts, 2 non-alcoholic beverages, dinnerware, flatware, cloth napkins and glassware. Live-charcoal Grill Master; venue approval required.

Catering attendants serving glazed sausages, barbecue ribs and roasted chicken from chafing dishes along a white-clothed wedding buffet line

Wood-Fired BBQ

Relaxed does not have to mean an afterthought. Give your San Diego wedding the warmth of wood-fired BBQ, generous menu choices and a reception-ready serving setup.

From $16.99 · 2 Meat Package $22.99

Per guest · food only · 50-serving minimum · service, tax, gratuity and extras additional

Hickory Smoked Pulled Pork, Smoked Pulled Chicken and Grilled Chicken Breast; premium options include beef brisket and tri-tip, with listed upgrades.

What’s included: 1 Meat Package: 1 meat + 2 sides. 2 Meat Package: 2 meats + 3 sides. Select the staffing, serving style and dinnerware your reception needs separately.

Existing Mexican BBQ Fusion taco buffet with tortillas, chips, rice and fresh toppings
Our existing taco buffet—one direction within the Mexican BBQ Fusion menu.

Mexican BBQ Fusion

Bring a lively, flavor-forward dinner to your coastal or inland reception. Mexican BBQ Fusion pairs smoky meats with citrus, chile and colorful sides for a distinctive wedding meal.

From $16.99 · 2 Meat Package $22.99

Per guest · food only · 50-serving minimum · service, tax, gratuity and extras additional

Char-Grilled Citrus Adobo Chicken, Grilled Pollo al Pastor, Smoked Chile-Lime Pulled Pork, Mexican Street Corn and Spanish Rice. Carne Asada +$3; Chile-Lime Grilled Shrimp +$4.

What’s included: 1 meat + 2 sides or 2 meats + 3 sides. Taco Bar $17.99 per guest: seasoned ground beef, shredded chicken, flour tortillas, tortilla chips, Spanish rice, frijoles and toppings. Service and fees are separate.

Planning an October–December reception? Our Fall & Winter Holiday menu is another seasonal option. Its own pricing and availability apply.

A few moments from our photo collection, with natural lighting and color touch-ups. Let’s explore what you love about each one for your own wedding; pictured locations aren’t attributed to either market.

Bride and groom smiling over dinner in matching wedding bibs at an outdoor table
The matching wedding bibs turn dinner into a little moment that belongs just to these two.

You deserve to enjoy your own wedding dinner.

With Qfire, you can choose Steakhouse, Wood-Fired BBQ or Mexican BBQ Fusion, then work with our team on a serving plan. Start with what the two of you actually love to eat—not what you think a wedding dinner has to be.

For your La Jolla reception or North County celebration, let’s fit dinner around your photos, sunset and the venue’s schedule.

Bride and groom giving thumbs-up beside a reception buffet
Two thumbs-up beside the buffet: a small snapshot with a lot of personality.

Your favorite comfort food can belong here, too.

Our Wood-Fired BBQ menu lets you choose a food package with one meat and two sides, or two meats and three sides. You can keep the food familiar and still plan a polished reception; service and dinnerware are selected separately.

You’ll see San Diego food prices before choosing the service details for your coastal or inland wedding.

From the fire to your celebration

A little atmosphere. A lot of flavor.

Chef Terry tending a charcoal grill with a couple and seated wedding guests behind him
Look beyond the grill: the couple and their guests are gathered just behind the cooking scene.

Make dinner part of the memory.

The Steakhouse Experience includes live-charcoal cooking with a Grill Master, plus its listed dinnerware, flatware, cloth napkins and glassware. If that feels like your kind of celebration, we’ll check the venue’s permission and cooking space together.

For your coastal or North County wedding, we’ll discuss the approved cooking area, wind exposure and access. Chef Terry’s personal attendance must be confirmed.

Chef Terry lifting grilled meat into a serving tray beside a live-fire grill at night
The glow of the fire catches the smoke as Chef Terry moves food from the grill to a serving tray.

Real fire. A dinner that feels like you.

Qfire is led by Food Network-featured Chef Terry Matthews. His live-fire approach is part of our story, and the Steakhouse Experience brings that cooking style to a suitable, approved venue. You can ask about the team assigned to your date before deciding.

For a San Diego County outdoor reception, let’s review your venue’s flame rules and cooking setup before making live fire part of your plan.

Chef Terry “The BBQ Daddy” Matthews with Bobby Flay on Food Network’s BBQ Brawl — founder of Qfire Catering
As seen on Food Network

Before you look at prices

Cooked by a Food Network chef.

Your wedding dinner is cooked by a chef who has competed on national television, and who has been feeding San Diego County celebrations since 2011. You are not hoping it turns out well. You already know.

  • Cutthroat Kitchen winner

    Won Food Network’s Cutthroat Kitchen, including Camp Cutthroat.

  • BBQ Brawl competitor

    Competed against top pitmasters on BBQ Brawl with Bobby Flay.

  • Food Network features

    Featured on Food Network rescuing a backyard cookout with live-fire technique.

  • 4.9/5 from 400+ reviews

    Real reviews across platforms from couples, companies and party hosts.

Watch Chef Terry on Food Network

Sounds like the chef you want, doesn’t it?

Make the budget make sense

How much does wedding catering cost in San Diego?

Here are three starting-point calculations for 100 guests. They are illustrative subtotals, not all-inclusive wedding totals. The more useful comparison is what each quote actually covers—not just its first number.

Steakhouse Experience

Full-service buffet

$84.00 / guest

$8,400.00 for 100 guests

Subtotal before additions

Steakhouse package + buffet service; tax, 10% gratuity and optional extras excluded.

Wood-Fired BBQ

2 Meat Package · food only

$22.99 / guest

$2,299.00 for 100 guests

Subtotal before additions

2 meats + 3 sides; service, protein upgrades, dinnerware, tax and gratuity excluded.

Mexican BBQ Fusion

2 Meat Package · food only

$22.99 / guest

$2,299.00 for 100 guests

Subtotal before additions

2 Mexican fusion meats + 3 sides; service, protein upgrades, dinnerware, tax and gratuity excluded.

Food price versus reception service

BBQ and Mexican Fusion package prices cover the listed food selections. Buffet, family-style and plated service are selectable, but staffing and service charges are additional. The Steakhouse Experience prices include its listed package and selected service style. Confirm your menu’s setup and staffing hours in writing.

For the BBQ and Fusion menus, current service fees differ between the menu selector and pricing guide. Your itemized quote will confirm the applicable fee; these estimates do not assume one.

What can change the final total?

  • Applicable sales tax and mandatory 10% gratuity are additional; the final quote confirms their calculation.
  • Protein upgrades, additional dishes, bar service, rentals, travel and extended service are itemized if selected.
  • BBQ and Fusion dinnerware is selected separately. Steakhouse tableware is included as listed.
  • Waste removal and extra clearing must be specified; glassware not supplied by Qfire is bussed at $1.50 per plate.
Newlyweds and Chef Terry at an outdoor reception table with dinner plates and flowers
A real Qfire celebration; venue and market are not attributed without confirmation.

The people around your table

Beautiful food. Happy guests. Time to enjoy it.

Build a menu with a mix of familiar favorites and dishes you’re excited to share. Tell us about dietary needs, children, vendor meals and your reception timeline so portions and service are planned around the people you’re feeding.

“This is by far the best BBQ you can have at your event in San Diego. The Brisket, tenderloin, and tritip is cooked to perfection. Terry and his team are doing a phenomenal job. I can't wait to try this BBQ again. It is finger-licking good 👌🏽!”
Sylvia Ntembe · San Diego · Google review

Your people, gathered around dinner

A setting that feels like the two of you.

Black-clothed reception buffet tables with chafing dishes, flowers and beverage dispensers
Dark linens, pale flowers and a separate drink area make this buffet feel thoughtfully arranged.

Let’s make the food feel at home in your setting.

Qfire’s full-service buffet includes buffet setup, replenishment and breakdown. We’ll discuss the serving layout with you and put the selected service in your proposal, so you can see what you’re arranging—not guess.

For a Coronado courtyard or Rancho Santa Fe estate, share the loading route, serving space and your venue’s rules with us.

Outdoor buffet with trays of meats and sides, salad, rolls and colorful drink dispensers
Follow the spread from the warm trays to the salad, rolls and colorful drinks at the far end.

A menu your people can make their own.

Your BBQ or Mexican Fusion package offers a choice of meats and sides; your guests’ dietary needs help us narrow those choices. Tell us what matters to your family, and we’ll discuss suitable dishes and preparations without promising an allergy-free kitchen.

For your Encinitas or Chula Vista reception, compare San Diego menus first; staffing, tax and selected extras stay separate from food-only prices.

Chef Terry and wedding guests smiling around a long dinner table in golden sunset light
Golden light, little flower vases and dinner plates along one long table give this moment its warmth.

The table is where your favorite people come together.

Qfire offers buffet, family-style and plated service selections. If you love the idea of sharing platters, let’s discuss family style and the space your flowers and place settings leave on the table. The right fit depends on your menu and reception plan.

For your San Diego County outdoor dinner, we can discuss sunset timing, coastal wind or inland conditions before you settle on service.

A dinner that fits the reception

Buffet, family style or plated?

Buffet

Guests choose the dishes they love. We plan the serving layout, setup and replenishment with your reception schedule. Available with Steakhouse, BBQ and Mexican Fusion menus.

Family style

Shared platters invite conversation at the table. Leave room alongside centerpieces and discuss the table layout with us. Listed on the Steakhouse, BBQ and Mexican Fusion service selections.

Plated dinner

Individual dinners served at the table. Discuss entrée choices, dietary meals and timing before finalizing service. Available as a listed service selection; staffing and menu details belong in your quote.

Chef Terry tending a live-fire grill with meat cooking outdoors at a catered event

Who handles setup, service and clearing?

Our team handles the food preparation and service written into your agreement. Full-service buffet includes buffet setup, replenishment and breakdown. Whole-venue cleanup, waste removal, rental returns and extended staffing are not assumed—let’s put exactly what you need in the proposal.

Qfire Catering is the catering business at TheBBQDaddy.com, led by Chef Terry Matthews. His Food Network background is part of our story; his personal attendance must be confirmed for your event.

Chef Terry’s Food Network story · Bar service details · Rental options

Care in the practical details

You don’t have to work out every detail alone.

Catering staff slicing brisket on cutting boards beneath silver heat lamps
The carving boards sit right beneath the silver lamps, with the food being sliced in front of guests.

A little dinner theatre, without the fuss.

Smoked Beef Brisket is a listed premium BBQ option. If you’re drawn to a carving presentation like this, ask us to confirm a station, staffing and any additional cost for your specific wedding—it isn’t a standard inclusion in every package.

For your San Diego reception, let’s check the venue’s serving space and access before adding a station to your proposal.

Catering attendant serving a wedding guest at a buffet beneath warm string lights
The string lights overhead and the attendant at the buffet make this evening scene feel welcoming.

You can celebrate while dinner has a plan.

With Qfire’s full-service buffet, setup, replenishment and buffet breakdown are part of the selected service. We’ll confirm staffing hours and any extra clearing in your agreement; whole-venue cleanup isn’t assumed.

For your Del Mar or Carlsbad evening reception, let’s match dinner service to your toasts and the venue’s finish time.

Catering team behind a patio buffet with covered chafing dishes and string lights at night
A line of covered chafers, little lights and the team behind the table bring order to this patio dinner.

An intimate wedding still deserves thoughtful service.

You don’t have to choose the biggest celebration to ask for help. Qfire has clearly listed menu minimums and separate service selections, so we can start with your gathering and explain which options fit.

San Diego Steakhouse service starts at 40 guests. For your backyard or private-estate reception, cooking permission and access still need checking.

One clear next step at a time

From a first idea to a reception plan.

  1. 01

    Share what you know

    Send your wedding date, venue, guest estimate and budget. “Not decided” and “Help me figure this out” are perfectly fine starting points.

  2. 02

    Review an itemized proposal

    We respond within 4 business hours and discuss your menu, service, venue logistics and extras. Ask about a tasting if you would like to sample the food before deciding.

  3. 03

    Confirm, then finalize

    An agreement and non-refundable 35% Date Charge secure the date. Final selections and balance are due 15 days before the wedding unless agreed otherwise in writing.

After the Date Charge, reductions to the contracted total are limited to 20%. No guest-count reductions after final payment. Read the payment, cancellation and guest-count terms.

Your venue, your local plan

Planning a San Diego County wedding reception?

For a La Jolla, Del Mar or Coronado reception, clarify loading access, the permitted cooking area and protection from coastal wind. For Carlsbad, Encinitas or an inland North County venue, share its vendor rules, kitchen access and dinner-service timeline early.

We maintain general liability insurance and are licensed in Arizona and California. Share the venue’s insurance requirements for review. We do not assume preferred-vendor status or permission to grill at any venue.

Our San Diego County service includes San Diego, La Jolla, Del Mar, Coronado, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Rancho Santa Fe, Poway, Escondido, San Marcos, Oceanside and Chula Vista. Travel and venue-specific requirements are itemized.

Chef Terry celebrating with newlyweds beneath string lights at an outdoor wedding pavilion
Authentic Qfire wedding photography. No venue partnership is implied.

Quick answers

San Diego wedding catering, explained in plain English.

Who is the best wedding catering company in San Diego?

Qfire Catering, led by Food Network chef Terry “The BBQ Daddy” Matthews, has catered San Diego County since 2011 and holds a 4.9/5 rating from 400+ reviews. Couples, companies and party hosts choose Qfire for live-fire Steakhouse, Wood-Fired BBQ, Mexican BBQ Fusion and seasonal Holiday menus with prices posted up front.

How much is wedding catering per person in San Diego?

San Diego wedding catering with Qfire starts at $16.99 per person for Wood-Fired BBQ, $17.99 for the Taco Bar, $17.99 for the Holiday Menu and $84.00 for the full-service Steakhouse Experience. Tax and a 10% gratuity are added; service style and delivery are itemized.

What menus are available for wedding catering in San Diego?

Four menus: the Steakhouse Experience (charcoal-grilled ribeye, New York strip, salmon and Wood-Fired Prime Rib with full service), Wood-Fired BBQ (brisket, tri-tip, ribs, smoked chicken and scratch sides), Mexican BBQ Fusion (taco bar, carne asada, street corn and rice and beans) and the Holiday Menu from October through December.

What is the minimum for wedding catering in San Diego?

Steakhouse starts at 40 guests; Wood-Fired BBQ, Mexican Fusion and Holiday start at 50 servings in San Diego County.

Serving San Diego, La Jolla, Del Mar, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Oceanside, Escondido, Chula Vista, Coronado, Poway, Rancho Santa Fe, El Cajon, La Mesa, Santee, San Marcos, Temecula wine-country edge and all of San Diego County. Our staffed kitchen is at 9932 Mesa Rim Rd A, San Diego, CA 92121.

Explore more: Steakhouse catering · Wood-fired BBQ catering · Mexican BBQ Fusion · Holiday menu · Corporate · Private parties · Catering blog · Chef Terry on Food Network

Answers before you decide

San Diego wedding catering questions.

How much does wedding catering cost in San Diego?

Wood-Fired BBQ and Mexican BBQ Fusion food packages start at $16.99 per guest for 1 meat and 2 sides, or $22.99 for 2 meats and 3 sides. The Steakhouse Experience is $84.00 buffet, $99.00 family style or $114.00 plated per guest. Food-only prices do not include service. Applicable tax, 10% gratuity and selected extras are itemized in your proposal.

What does full-service wedding catering include?

Full-service catering includes food preparation and service as written in your agreement. Buffet service covers setup, replenishment and buffet breakdown. Confirm staffing hours, table clearing, rentals and waste removal in the written proposal. Disposable dinnerware is bussed; bussing glassware not supplied by Qfire costs an additional $1.50 per plate.

Can we have a steakhouse dinner at our wedding venue?

Yes. The Steakhouse Experience brings live-charcoal cooking and buffet, family-style or plated dining to your venue. Share its fire rules and cooking-area requirements before booking; onsite cooking depends on venue permission and a suitable setup area. For coastal and North County receptions, discuss wind exposure, access and the permitted cooking area.

Do you offer Mexican fusion wedding catering?

Yes. Our Mexican BBQ Fusion menu includes Char-Grilled Citrus Adobo Chicken, Smoked Chile-Lime Pulled Pork, Grilled Pollo al Pastor and sides such as Mexican Street Corn and Spanish Rice. Fire-Grilled Carne Asada and Chile-Lime Grilled Shrimp carry listed upgrades. A Taco Bar is also available. Menu and service selections are quoted separately.

What is the minimum guest count for San Diego wedding catering?

The Steakhouse Experience starts at 40 guests. Wood-Fired BBQ and Mexican BBQ Fusion have a 50-serving minimum. Tell us your estimated count, including any vendor meals, so we can recommend a suitable menu and quote.

Can you accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies?

Vegetarian and vegan choices are listed on the BBQ and Mexican Fusion menus, including cauliflower steaks, BBQ jackfruit and vegetable sides. Share allergies and dietary needs before choosing dishes. The team must confirm suitable preparations and cross-contact precautions for your guests; an allergy-free environment is not guaranteed.

How do guest-count changes and payments work?

A non-refundable 35% Date Charge secures the date and is credited toward the final balance. After payment of the Date Charge, the contracted total may be reduced by at most 20%. Guest count, food, equipment and service times must be finalized at least 15 days before the event; the balance is due then unless otherwise agreed in writing. Guest-count reductions are not permitted after final payment. Cancellation terms are in the catering agreement.

When should we book our San Diego wedding caterer?

Send an inquiry once you have a likely date and venue, especially for a weekend coastal or North County reception. Your date, venue and guest estimate help us plan access and service. An inquiry does not reserve the date; the agreement and Date Charge do.

Can we arrange a tasting before deciding?

Private tastings are $200 for 5–7 guests and include 3 meats, 3 sides and 2 appetizers, subject to date availability and appointment confirmation. Ask about the selections and location for your market in your inquiry; a tasting is not included in the displayed menu prices.

What happens after we request a quote?

Your request goes to the Qfire team with your market and wedding details. We respond within 4 business hours to discuss the date, menu, venue and budget, then clarify an itemized proposal. A quote request is not a confirmed booking or payment commitment. Chef Terry leads Qfire; personal attendance at your wedding must be confirmed rather than assumed.

Let’s make dinner one less thing to worry about

Tell us about your San Diego wedding.

You do not need a finished plan to start. We’ll help you explore a menu and service style that fit your reception and budget. Your request goes directly to our team with San Diego County already selected.

Share what you know—even if plans are still taking shape. This is a quote request, not an order or reservation. Your information is handled under our Privacy Policy.