Ate here during a recent business trip to the area. Stopped in one evening for some BBQ. Small place, very cozy. We were greeted by the staff on arrival and felt very welcome. Not much of a crowd that evening, so we got plenty of attention. Good food - no complaints. Good flavor. I won't rave that it's the best I ever had, but it was well-prepared and served generously. Fair priced. Clean eating area. You can't go wrong here. read more

The beef BBQ was dry - REQUIRED the sauce. Recommend passing on the sausage and buying a Kielbasa at the Brookshire's. Beans and potato salad sides were the stars of the meal. read more

Omg ! Amazing ! We just moved out to Forney and was afraid we would have to drive to Dallas to get good bbq but JJ's proved us wrong ! WE WILL DEFINITELY BE BACK! Good BBQ! read more

Not my favorite. Based on the many good reviews, I chose this place to celebrate my daughter's Birthday. There was eight of us so I ordered the works. Brisket, racks of ribs both pork and beef. BBQ chicken, pulled pork and all the fixings. Frankly, it was not good bbq. There were no smoke rings on any of the proteins. The ribs tasted like they were boiled and dipped in bbq sauce. The pulled pork was good. The chicken was definitely on the dry side. The brisket, was ok. The fixings however, were very good. Especially the coleslaw and baked beans. read more

The worst ribs I've ever tried to eat. They were so darn tough and taste like lighter fluid. The nerves to charge 20.00. The beans and potato salad was good. I only ate 1 and a half and spit most of it out the meat was to tough to swallow. read more

JJ's BBQ - ribs in a styrofoam container - Barbeque Near Me - El Dorado, Arkansas

Good BBQ, owner and wife were friendly. The individual pies were delicious. I wish I had bought a few of them to go. Really enjoyed the food. It's a small place but pretty interesting. I will go back the next time I am in town. read more

Honestly it was just average. I hate to be down on a locally owned business in a small town that doesn't move a whole lot of food on a daily basis, but there was a lot of room for improvement. The brisket was thin-sliced, dry, didn't have any kind of spicy bark or smoke flavor. It just tasted reheated. Maybe I just caught them on a bad day. Nice people, good service and all that. Just lackluster food. I'm sorry. Three stars to encourage them to step up their game. read more

Ok let me state I'm not in Texas now. That said yes the place looks just like you want a q joint to look like. However after that it starts going downhill. Cutomers get no interaction with the owner, looked like just tired and ready to go. Maybe an off day. Overall you get the vibe that it could be a killer q shak if or it used to be. Ordered loaded potato, plate of ribs and three sides to get an overall flavor. How can I put it...... just bland ecept for the beans, very tasty. The question is would I refer someone or return myself and the answer is no. read more

JJ's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - El Dorado, Arkansas

Hole in the wall, dated interior which makes this place even better. I have not tried their BBQ yet. My first time there the other night when they were having their USDA 1" plus think ribeye special. It was delicious and perfectly cooked. Didn't add anything to it! I also had a basic blue cheese salad and baked potato . Can't wait to go try it again. read more

I kept waiting for Guy Fierri to walk through the door at any minute. This place had the look and feel of an authentic smokehouse, the type of place where the junk on the wall isn't junk on the wall, but meaningful mementos. While the menu was a blur the food was top notch. The ribs and brisket were smokey, tender and flavorful. I prefer my ribs to be able to stand up without sauce. JJ's needed the sauce but the homemade spicy sauce didn't disappoint. Like many southern joints the drinks were over sweetened, but given the address it was understandable. read more

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I have eaten at JJ's for years and is one of my favorites in El Dorado. The food is always good, great even. Love the atmosphere (like seeing the final destination of those items Mike and Frank pick up on American Pickers). I've never had bad service. I read through some of the other reviews and believe them to be extremely off base and not credible based on my experience. Some people think they sound more important by being critical. To say the food is bland, or that the service is less than friendly is ludicrous and the reviewers must have narrow minded views of food and expectations. I've eaten at restaurants in 30 states and 9 countries. I would recommend JJ's to anyone, any time and would never be embarrassed to do so. I can't wait until my next fantastic meal at JJ's! read more

When I arrived here I was really excited because outside of this place smells absolutely wonderful. When you walk in, turn left and you order at the counter. They give you cups and you get your drink & pick a place to sit. Make sure you keep your ticket because it has your Number that they call for the food on. So while sitting down we noticed this huge fish in the fish tank- was really cool & a beautiful fish but the tank was extremely dirty & looked too small for that fish which made me really sad. So we waited a little over 30 min for our food. People that sat down after us got their food before we did. The lady that brought the food out recognized it and asked us what we ordered and got on it. My boyfriends salad came out then shortly after our food came out. It looked and smelled great. I got the bbq nachos. But as I was eating the nachos it barely had any meat or bbq sauce. Do not make me wait that long for what is in appetizer and call them bbq nachos when almost zero bbq was found. The most exciting part about my meal was the sour cream. That shouldn't happen. My boyfriend got the ribeye and said it was ok. He told me he had been there before & the bbq chicken is really good. If I go back I will definitely get the chicken & update my review. read more

JJ's BBQ - Bbq nachos - Barbeque Near Me - El Dorado, Arkansas

I'm sorry to go with ok... based on my poor choice of picking the "chopped pork" sammy. The grissle and bits on the chopped pork just ruined my lunch for me. The sides were nothing special either. I may give the place another shot if I'm in town and try the ribs next... people seem to love them. Its kinda hidden, a locals place of blue collar hard working folks enjoying their chow in hunting style surroundings. The decor alone is worth a visit. read more

I really like this place. It has character and good food. I usually like to get the ribeye there. It seems to be the best steak in El Dorado; Not the gristly shoe leather you get at most restaurants. I have eaten there several times and I always try to work it in to my schedule when I'm working in the area. It's kind of tucked away off the beaten path which may explain why it is lesser-known then some of the other restaurants. There is nothing pretentious about it, So don't go there looking for modern flashy atmosphere. It is down-home cooking and worth a visit. read more

Their BBQ chopped beef sandwich is great, and their homemade sauce complements it really well. I used to really enjoy their steaks but the last 2 times I got steak there, it was too much pepper for my tastes. Steak is only served in the evenings and JJ's is only open on weekdays, so plan accordingly. I tried their fried pies; I got apple and it may have been peach, but I just didn't really care for it. My hubby liked his chocolate cake we got there once, but he said that it was "good, but average," so you may want to skip dessert. In all, a good lunch spot, definitely worth a try! read more

Giving five stars for their steak, not their BBQ. As a local, my family eats here once or twice per month. Hands down the best steak you will find in this area. I have ate steak all around the United States; from Dallas, to Houston, New York City, to St. Louis, Atlanta, and Orlando, Chicago, and so on. JJ's steaks rank pretty high on my list. Their steaks aren't pretty and aren't trimmed to perfection, but they are large, wonderfully seasoned and buttered, and are cooked to perfection on a wood fired grill. You have two options: 1" ribeye or 1-1/4" ribeye, that's it. The 1-1/4 cut I would guess is between 16 and 20 ounces. Definitely large enough to share, unless you love steak like me and can handle it alone. Pretty sure they buy their steaks pre-cut, and I'm not even sure what grade they are, but there is always plenty of fat marbling and a nice big fat cap. Do yourself a favor and pass on the BBQ. read more

JJ's BBQ - Certified Angus Beef Ribeye Steak, Sausage - Barbeque Near Me - El Dorado, Arkansas

JJs was recommended from a local to check out. The shrimp plate is very good. The shrimp is not covered in a heavy batter as you can actually taste the shrimp. The baked beans are very good. Others in our party got ribs, steak, and rib tips. Everyone was happy with their food. The staff is very friendly and definitely make sure you have everything you need. Definitely a BBQ place I would recommend in El Dorado, AR. read more

Great bbq shack, tender meat and sauce is think for you bbq lovers who need to know. Spicy sauce is not hot just has flavor with minimal kick. read more

JJ's BBQ - Picked up the bone and the meat cello right off. - Barbeque Near Me - El Dorado, Arkansas

For a town that is void of great restaurants, JJ's is one of the best you can find. First of all, it is a very small place and it is a hole in the wall. Parking is difficult and it has odd hours...not open on Sunday or Saturday! You order at the counter when you go in and there are several choices from BBQ, steak, catfish, and burgers. I've always gotten the BBQ and the BBQ itself is pretty good. Not the best but good enough to come back for it. The ribs are the best. They are huge, meaty, and have a smoky flavor to them. The pork is the next best. The brisket is just ok and the chicken was all right but nothing spectacular. Their BBQ sauce comes in regular and spicy. I really like their BBQ sauce a lot because I have never had any of it anywhere...except for the other BBQ place (Howell's) in El Dorado. But besides El Dorado, nowhere else. It is a tomato base with cajun spices added in. Very good and unique! That is the best part of JJ's. Their potato salad is also very, very good. It is mustard based and has some black pepper to it. The beans are smoky and they are pretty good. Sometimes, they do bring you BBQ chips to chew on as you wait. This place has a lot of interesting things to look at. There is an aquarium with fish, a TV, a map to mark where you are from, and other knick-knacks. The service is pretty good except for the man that sits behind the counter and takes your order...he isn't rude but seems irritated about something everytime I've been. The ladies who bring out your food has always been very kind and willing to serve. Also, they charge extra if you use a card so beware of that. If you are in El Dorado and looking for a restaurant a good restaurant, I recommend JJ's. I promise, it is one of the best in El Dorado. read more

As a Canadian recently settled in El Dorado with my husband I had a lot to learn about BBQ. Glad I am learning how wonderful it is at JJ's. The ribs are insanely good. Tender and flavorful you can still taste the meat rather than just smoke. I recently had a steak there and when I thought nothing could be as good as their ribs they surprised me all over again. The parking is limited but there is street parking available. The restaurant itself is a family style unpretentious wonderful ambiance. Make it a place to go for amazing food if you are in El Dorado. read more

Great bbq and friendly down home people. Great chips also. Love this place. The location is not in the best neighborhood but all the best bbq is not downtown anywhere. read more

Yikes. Read a review that said food was "more fresh and better later in the week". Hopefully he meant Sunday evening. Its Thursday and I had the chopped beef BBQ sandwich. I would term it as the Crumbling Dry Meat Sandwich. VERY dry, half the meat crumbled out of the bun. Almost like they scraped the crust off of the meat, ground it into pellets and served it on a bun. Not much taste. Hopefully they have other menu items that are better. I won't be back to find out. read more

My wife and I just finished eating at JJ's and left very disappointed. The brisket was dry, the sausage bland, and while the ribs were tender they almost tasted like they'd been in a crockpot and then thrown on a smoker for five minutes- they didn't have much of a smoky flavor. The mac and cheese was terrible. The only thing that was really good was their shrimp poppers. For nearly $50 we will never be back. read more

First off...the girl behind the counter was friendly n helpful!! So rare in El dorado!! the inside of the joint was clean n had a lot of collectable they used to decorate. there was an aquarium that had a huge fish that was cool. right on the counter for sampling was fresh homemade chips. they reminded me of lays yellow bag pain chips. the Were great! we got our order to go. Richard got some BBQ nachos which came out in this huge cake box. Looked good but upon further inspection...there was only about two tablespoons of meat on entire thing. The homemade chips with jalepenos and shredded melted cheese and sour cream Were good but just not enough meat. now about my BBQ plate. being from TN.. I am particular about my BBQ. The meat was chopped not pulled. now I know they smoked the meat cause I saw smoke rolling out the smoke shack beside the restaurant... but the taste...I don't know. It tasted as if they added liquid smoke to everything. the meat...my beans. The slaw was fresh but was short on moisture. my potato salad was good but was different...wasn't chucks of potatoes but creamed potatoes with the skins just mixed in. all in all...one of the best places in El dorado but Sorry guys...come to Tn n try some real BBQ. read more

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I'm surprised there isn't a review of this yet. I have to travel to Eldo from time to time and try to make this at least one of my regular stops for either lunch or dinner. They have great brisket and ribs. They offer combo meals where you can choose 2 or 3 meat items along with sides. They offer homemade style potato chips by the register to munch on while waiting to order. Parking is very restricted but it is available on the street down the block. Cars move in and out as many customers come in for take-out. They even have their own generators when the power goes out. I went there during a storm and they were still serving (except for toast). read more

BBQ places come and go in this area of the south, but JJ's has been a constant for me since I was a little girl growing up in El Dorado. Rich and flavorful sauce with a little kick but not too much vinegar is a great complement to their wide variety of smoked meats. JJ's brisket was present at many an informal family gathering in my youth, served simply with white buns and potato salad or baked beans. I've spent hours daydreaming about their tender, sticky ribs after I moved north of BBQ country. With all the newcomers sprouting up a BBQ war is brewing in Lower Arkansas, and I stand by the classic. read more

Best steak in Eldorado AR! You wouldn't think so by looking at the outside. It is a small hole in the wall type of restaraunt. But the food is delicious, the people are friendly and the prices are not bad. You get plenty to eat, definitely get your money's worth! If you are in Eldorado AR I would highly recommend you stop by and give it a chance. It is closed on wknds, so make sure it's a weekday. read more

First stop in El Dorado, AR and based on reviews here tried out JJ's. I had a 3 meat combo and all the meat was very tender and moist. The sauce was needed for flavor but an excellent sauce. I arrived just before closing and the sides weren't as appealing. But the staff made up for it with their extremely friendly and helpful service. Would definitely come back again. read more

Love JJs BBQ!!!! The food is excellent! Some things are a little pricey but totally worth it!!! My only complaint is that it's a very small building and they are usually packed so I suggest you order your food to go! But excellent good I suggest trying the blooming onion that's my favorite!!! read more

Great BBQ! Super nice staff, and the name is actually JJ's BBQ. I had the 3 meat combo and fried pie for dessert. This spot is not for dining just straight good eatin read more

oh my god I don't know where all these people are from who gave this restaurant a great review! I'm from California and it's just not how we do it out there. I got rib tips and those are the worst I ever had , they were hacked so badly. my sides were potato salad and coleslaw, the potato salad was mushy in had way too much vinegar and the slaw was to sweet, just okay . the only good thing about this place was people real friendly and the sweet tea was good therefore the 2 stars . will never go there again read more

I'm always pleased with my food and the service, I've been coming here for years. The pulled pork sandwich with spicy sauce is my favorite, and always get a blooming onion! You won't regret it read more

I actually like the place but am tired of showing up when they are supposed to be open to find out they are not. Got there tonight and they locked the door in front of me at 6pm when door says they close at 8. read more

Great bbq. Sauce is vinegar based but sweet and not smokey. I had rib plate with beans and potato salad. Ribs were HUGE but very tender. Atmosphere is very casual. Overall great experience. read more

I'm from Houston Texas visiting El Dorado AR for work, per the recommendation of one of the local plant workers we were advised this place would knock our socks off! That was the exact opposite of what happens after spending $16 on a 2 meat plate with ribs and chicken and a drink I was very disappointed with the end product. The meat was boiled with barely any spoke flavor to it and just not what BBQ is suppose to be, it was tough and flavorless. I'm warning you if you want good BBQ stay clear of this place! read more

Great atmosphere which leads you to think the BBQ will be great. Spare-ribs were cooked well but did not have flavor. Needed sauce and the mild sauce was ok. Brisket was chewy. BBQ beans were good. Fried okra was ok but over-cooked and/or the oil was getting dark. read more

The food was mediocre at best. The ribs tasted boiled not smoked, and my husband swears the BBQ sauce is a mixture of ketchup, tomato paste and minced garlic. It was disappointing considering all the reviews we read before eating there. The best thing there was the homemade potato chips. read more

Good old fashioned, rustic BBQ place. Pork, be it ribs or chopped/sliced, have nice smoke taste, but not impressed with the thinly sliced brisket or the horrible sauce (tried both sweet and spicy). Tasted like stewed tomatoes with peppers. Some molasses, etc would be in order here... Also had a weird after taste of being spoiled. On the positive, huge portions as well and nice sides. Mac/cheese and baked potatoes where nice choices. Nice touch with Texas toast. I'll be back, but I'll be bringing my own sauce! read more

Yelpers ya let me down on this one. Ordered the brisket and sausage plate. The sausage was ok but the brisket was totally dried out and tough. Potato salad was a soupy mashed concoction with way too much mayo. For $21 it was overpriced for much better BBQ elsewhere. read more

Great BBQ place. Smells delicious as you walk in. I got the pulled pork sandwich and my husband got the rib sandwich. Sides were good too. We're not from the area and I'm glad we found this place. This was a good local find. read more