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    Bashful Bandit Barbecue

    4.3 (243 reviews)
    ModerateBarbeque, Bars, Caterers
    Open 10:30 am - 8:00 pm

    Order Bashful Bandit Barbecue Takeout or Delivery

    Services - Bashful Bandit Barbecue

    Allergy-friendly catering

    Catering

    Gluten-free catering

    2 More Services

    Vegan catering

    Vegetarian catering

    Bashful Bandit Barbecue Photos

    Business Info

    BASHFUL BANDIT BARBECUE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Bashful Bandit Barbecue

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    Mixed meats platter
    Jenn K.

    So I came here on a visit when my daughter was at U of A . I had to do a double take when I saw the location because back in the day when I was a student this was a rough and tumble biker bar . Glad to see it got converted into something new and still kept its charm. Upon approach you can smell the lovely char of the smoker and your eyes are met with some wonderful meats to choose from The flavor was good, the brisket was tender and the sauces flavorful

    Doretta W.

    Really not impressed. Order at the bar ... weird. He also got my order wrong. None of the meat items had much seasonings ... dry rub or wet .. and no real smoke smell or flavor. The meats were moist .. just boring. I did however like both salads ;) They had several bbq sauces ... none of which was a traditional hickory or smoked.

    The Bashful Tray
    Christina Z.

    Having grown up in Texas, I was excited to try this Texas-style prepared barbecue with Tucson flair - it definitely hit the spot with its smoky flavor with a Southwest twist. You order up at the counter and can choose meat by the pound, plates (choice of meat with 2 sides), sandwiches, or trays. My husband and I decided on the Bashful tray which serves 2 people and is the right amount of food. It comes with 1/2lb of brisket, 1/2lb of your choice of meat, pickle, 3 sides, and crack pie. There is a separate area for self serve sauces so you can try multiple ones. The brisket was on the drier side but had a nice kick of spice from the rub and smokiness. We chose the green chile pulled pork which we thought was better than the brisket - it was tender and not dry at all. For sides, the potato salad is great if you're a fan of dill and not too much mayo, and the sunflower crunch salad is light, complements the heaviness of the meats, and is made with vinegar-based dressing which I prefer. The Mac n cheese was standard. The crack pie is aptly named - it is addictive! I'm not sure what all the ingredients are but it's gooey, warm, caramel and chocolate goodness.

    Dean B.

    Barbeque is quintessential American cuisine. The "low and slow" cooking with meat and smoke is unique and uniquely delicious in the culinary world. Regional styles like Memphis, Kansas City, Texas and others all have their own wonderful nuances. And while there isn't a distinct Arizona style, we're pretty good at throwin' something dead on the smoker here. And that's just what they do at The Bashful Bandit in Tucson. Their ribs and sausages are good. The brisket is lean, but very flavorful. I didn't get to try the chicken, but the highlight was the pulled pork. If there were an Arizona style BBQ it would be something like this. They cheat the competition rules, but I'm okay with that. They put some green chile in the pulled pork and it's an absolute killer. Not so killer was their coleslaw. It was as sour as the face on my ex-wife and as bland as the seggs we had before she broke up with me. And while I never had a side dish, the side dishes here (apart from the coleslaw) were all yummy. Really good mac and cheese, top shelf cowboy beans, and a potato salad that was dressed in dill and tasting mighty fine. Speaking of dressed, I like my BBQ naked, but if you need sauce (sissy) then go for the house sauce. Great flavor, just a little heat, and just a little sweet - very balanced. The spicy sauce was just okay and the mustard sauce might as well have just been French's Mustard from a two-dollar squirt bottle. Most importantly, while you're wiping the house sauce off your greasy lips, go back to the counter and do yourself a favor, order their appropriately and hilariously named "Smoked Crack Pie." It's an other worldly happy ending to your meal (didn't see that coming, didja?). This thing is a simple but genius dessert. They take a chocolate chip cookie covered in a vanilla custard topping and put it in the smoker. It's got a gooey consistency like a pecanless pecan pie and tastes like if your favorite brownie and crème brûlée had a baby (I'm honestly not sure how that would work...it's weird just to imagine the mechanics really...). Anyhow, don't be bashful, get to The Bashful Bandit in Midtown Tucson and git yerself a case of the meat sweats. You won't regret it.

    Lisa M.

    We went here on a Wednesday afternoon and really enjoyed our visit! The staff was friendly, the restaurant really clean and airy and the food was delicious. We got pulled pork and brisket, with beans and the sunflower crunch salad. The brisket had an incredible peppery bark on the outside that was decadent and delicious. The pulled pork was super flavorful with some chile vibes. The sides were good too, not quite as standout for me as the meats but a great compliment to the heavier meat aspect. They also have a great selection of BBQ sauces to self serve, my favorite being the Carolina mustardy version, but they were all very good. It was about $35 for 2 people splitting a 2 meat platter with soft drinks, a little pricey but reasonable for BBQ and for the quality of the food. Excited to go back!

    Duane S.

    Amazing excellent bbq and service. We arrived around 3 so we almost had the place to ourselves. Everything is great, so don't worry about what to order.

    Green salad and smoked pie (dessert) and barbecue sauces

    Really 4.5 stars. The meat: 5 stars! So good. The brisket was moist and ribs were tender! The sides: 4 stars. They were ok. (Just to be clear, they were not bad, just not amazing.) We got Mac and cheese, potato salad and green salad. I think the sides are just as important as the meat and the sides were a little disappointing. The dessert: 4 stars. Good but very sweet. The service: 5 stars. All the employees were friendly and very helpful. The atmosphere: 5 stars. Nice indoor and outdoor seating. Plenty of tables to accommodate larger parties.

    Green Chile Pulled Pork Sandwich and mac n cheese
    Gio W.

    Great bbq spot with a fast-casual ambiance that's perfect to hang out in. Staff is friendly and helpful! You can't go wrong with the hatch chile pulled pork and hot link. Our favorite sides were the borracho beans (had a boozy bite) and herby potato salad.

    2 meat plate- Sliced Brisket Plate, Spare Ribs
    Jennifer W.

    The BBQ was amazing! Recommend getting the dilly potato salad and sunflower crunch slaw as a side. All the guys were friendly and helpful and loved that the manager went around checking in. Apparently this used to be an old biker bar, so loved that they kept the history. Would recommend stopping in! Come on down y'all.

    The Bashful Tray
    Chris B.

    Amazing service from the moment we arrived -- very welcoming and inviting atmosphere. The food was outstanding, especially the pork ribs and Sonora hot dog. The drinks were also great and very affordable. Thank you for being part of such a great experience for my family during our time in Arizona!

    Where the magic happens!
    James C.

    Heard good things about the new Bashful Bandit had to give it a go. It is counter service BBQ with on the wall menu as you walk in. We had the wet brisket and chili relleno sausage with pickles and mac-n-cheese. Other dish was wet brisket with ribs pickles and dill potato salad. Everything was excellent. The interior is reminiscent of what the old bar looked like. Rustic as a BBQ place should be. The alcohol is separate from the food it appears because the original bar is on the opposite side of room from the food. Beware there is a 20% gratuity if you open a tab at the bar.

    Ribs, Potk, Beans
    Vikki C.

    Driving through and Tikatok'd this place. Had just traveled from Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico. This place is fire! Chris was so friendly and helpful!

    Sliced Brisket Plate cold slaw. Borracho Beans
    Mark A.

    It's efficient in service, order up and they get it right to you. It kind of reminds me of a high school cafeteria. Great patio not facing Speedway and some good shade. The inside is stark and uninspiring. There is a wide range of bbq sauce. The sides are just not good. Mac and cheese flavorless Potato salad is blah blah blah Beans fine but not good. Coleslaw left us all hanging as well 2 friends got the sliced brisket sandwich. One was leanish the other was fatty. The plate was fine I had the ribs and they were okay but not great. I wish them well and hope they do a little improvement, but I'm not holding my breath.

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    3 months ago

    Food was amazing!!!! Environment was great!!! I will definitely be coming back me and my wife loved it 10/10

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    8 months ago

    The food was delicious and generous. The crew really knows how to explain the menu and we're very courteous.

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    Business owner information

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    Toby K.

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    10 months ago

    Amazing BBQ, highly recommend! Definitely plan to return, telling my friends to check this out if they are ever in Tucson.

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    9 months ago

    Everything GREAT FOOD Nice people can't wait to go again !! I will certainly recommend this restaurant to family and friends

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    1 year ago

    The staff was friendly. The place was clean. The BBQ is some of the best I've ever eaten. Keep up the good work!

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    Page 3 of 7

    Ask the Community - Bashful Bandit Barbecue

    Smokey Mo

    Smokey Mo

    4.4(753 reviews)
    3.1 miKeeling
    $$

    Time to go back and review. I like to revisit places after a few years and see what is different…read more Smoky Mo didn't disappoint. Places are successful because they stay the course and do what they do best. Today we went with the four meat platter, perfect amount for two people, brisket, pulled pork, turkey and sausage. With four side of coleslaw, mac and cheese, potato salad and cornbread. All meats are still sauced unless requested "on the side", but not so much to overwhelm the meat taste. Juicy flavorful pulled pork. Delicious smoked turkey. Brisket was just slightly dry but the sauce and nice bark made it enjoyable. The sausage was AMAZING, juicy and packed with flavor. Coleslaw in my opinion, could use a little more "wetness" but it was still delicious. What can I say about the mac and cheese and potato salad, people from the south, Texas to the Carolina's just know how to get it done. The "Texas Sweet Tea", if you are a diabetic do not drink, however this is a true southern tea, it's done the same all across the south, sugar with some tea thrown in. Four meats, four sides and two drinks with tip $50, not bad for two people, I've definitely spent more for food that didn't even come close to this. Once again Smoky Mo you did not disappoint. If you are a BBQ person this is STILL the best of Tucson. Get out and support this small local business!

    Got the fatty brisket and pork ribs…read more Falls off the bone ribs 7/10 And brisket 7/10 Will come back. Just gotta remember to ask for sauce on the side. Fair price and portion. Service is great and Ambiance is cozy.

    Photos
    Smokey Mo - Outdoor covered seating area.

    Outdoor covered seating area.

    Smokey Mo - Pulled pork

    Pulled pork

    Smokey Mo

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    Holy Smokin Butts BBQ - Family Feast

    Holy Smokin Butts BBQ

    4.3(663 reviews)
    4.2 mi
    $$

    Holy Smokin's Butts is a fantastic BBQ place I found, based on a Yelp reviews. My fellow Yelpers…read moredid not let us down! I loved this place and frankly, although great Mexican food in Tucson is a given, I didn't know they had good barbeque too. They had all my favorites, so my wife and I decided to split the The Big "Q" Platter for $38. This included Brisket, Pulled Pork, Tri-tip, Sausage, Turkey, two St. Louis Style Pork Ribs, and 4 slices of toast with our choice of two eight-ounce sides (we chose the baked beans and coleslaw. My favorites were the Ribs, Brisket, Tri-tip, and baked beans. The turky was solid and smokey. I'm not really a fan of sausage, but my wife enjoyed these. I loved that you could really taste the smokey taste and that everything was fresh, juicy, and tender. The baked beans were the kind of love, with pieces of pork throughout the mixture. Because we split this platter (with leftovers), it was quite a good deal. When the bill came, the waitress listed a bunch of things that qualified for an extra discount, so we scored an additional 10% off for being seniors. If I lived in Tucson, this place would be on my regular restaurant rotation, which is high praise indeed!

    We used to love this barbecue spot, but the service has become absolutely terrible. The posted…read moreclosing time is 8:00 PM, and while I understand it is posted that the dining room closes at 7:40 PM, it is not so serious that you should immediately turn away a family walking in right at that exact minute. Rejecting my wife and two kids and willfully losing out on revenue twenty minutes before the restaurant actually closes is completely unacceptable. I hope management starts paying closer attention to how their staff treats incoming patrons. Your food might be good, but you are not that special. Show some respect to your customers. We will never be coming back.

    Photos
    Holy Smokin Butts BBQ - Lobby into dining room

    Lobby into dining room

    Holy Smokin Butts BBQ - 3/4 lb burger and fries.  Great lunch for ~$14.00 including drink.

    3/4 lb burger and fries. Great lunch for ~$14.00 including drink.

    Holy Smokin Butts BBQ - I can't guarantee you will see this, but it was a beautiful sunset.

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    I can't guarantee you will see this, but it was a beautiful sunset.

    Brother John's Beer Bourbon & BBQ - From the Smoker - Family Style: Brisket, Half Chicken, St. Louis Ribs, Pulled Pork, Pickled Onion & Jalapeño, Texas Toast.

    Brother John's Beer Bourbon & BBQ

    3.2(791 reviews)
    3.5 miOcatillo-Oracle
    $$

    My friend, came into town from Cochise County and wanted to go to listen to jazz at Brother John's…read moresince it was Sunday afternoon. This restaurant has jazz every Sunday afternoon from 2-5p.m. Absolutely incredible musicians and singer! The crowd was festively dressed and happy and truly enjoying this music. We got shareable appetizers, the burnt end nachos with brisket and fried buffalo cauliflower florets with ranch dressing. Both delicious!! I had the Old Forester 1920 whiskey- 1 Oz and that was plenty! The bartender served us water as well as we had sat up at bar. The was professional and quite efficient. Before we left, I asked bartender what I could get to bring home for my dog- thinking he would laugh at me, but he told me he does same for his dog and that he eats better than him. We laughed when I said "same!" He suggested the tacos and would separate out the pulled pork from the onions, cotija cheese and jalapeños- and did! Kai loved that I brought her home "tacos!"Thank you for a great afternoon, Brother John's!!

    The move to counter service completely changed the vibe of this restaurant, and not for the better…read more Service used to be the biggest highlight, and now it feels like you're paying the same prices for a much lower level of attention. As someone who frequented this restaurant for the last few years, I had a firsthand look at how things were run, and in my experience management operated very unprofessionally. It ultimately pushed me to stop supporting this business, and based on those experiences, I can no longer recommend it. There are far better BBQ options out there. From what I personally witnessed, the owner, David, was consistently disrespectful toward employees and created a company culture that I don't believe deserves support. Also important to note that there is something up with the drains/ sewer system in this building and about once a week the entire dining room smells like a sewer leak.. gross

    Photos
    Brother John's Beer Bourbon & BBQ - From the Smoker - Family Style: Short Rib, Pulled Pork, Baby Back Ribs, Pickled Onion & Jalapeño, Texas Toast.

    From the Smoker - Family Style: Short Rib, Pulled Pork, Baby Back Ribs, Pickled Onion & Jalapeño, Texas Toast.

    Brother John's Beer Bourbon & BBQ - 64oz Growler To Go!
 Choose from nearly 50 draught beers & over 10 local craft options. Call for selection and pricing.

    64oz Growler To Go! Choose from nearly 50 draught beers & over 10 local craft options. Call for selection and pricing.

    Brother John's Beer Bourbon & BBQ - Maple Old Fashioned.

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    Maple Old Fashioned.

    Bashful Bandit Barbecue - bbq - Updated July 2026

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