Best bbq in town! Don't be fooled by the building nothing exciting. The brisket and pull pork was delightful. The water cornbread could have been thinner for more crunch but it was good. The potato salad was extra yummy. I don't normally like anyone's potato salad. read more

JL Smokehouse - Brisket - Barbeque Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Stop waiting for hours in line at LMB and go get your BBQ here! JL is a hands on owner and is in the kitchen making sure your meal will be 5 stars. I have used him for catering twice and my staff has had nothing but positive and great things to say. No one left the meeting hungry and the staff who were not part of the meeting were as equally thankful to get a plate. His catering packages truly give you one of everything to try! Our package had the hot links, brisket, pulled pork and ribs and we also added chicken. Whatever seasoning is in the French fries is addicting! JL is truly passionate about his place, service and food, I must have forgotten some sides and when I got back to the office, our dispatcher told me JL was on his way to bring them to me and he did! You just don't see or get customer service like that anymore. He is every example of what an owner should be. read more

Reddit showed me this place and did not disappoint!!!! I could smell it from a block away. Bought a heavy hitter from me mom and wife and it was finger licking good!!! The sides were a huge portion. Has enough food for lunch and dinner. Thank you!! read more

I visited JL's Smokehouse yesterday and got "The Heavy Hitter" I'm glad I did! My Wife and I tore it up! Lol Well most of it, I'm eating what's left for brunch!I was ordering and didn't quite know what i wanted. Finn at the front of the house was patient with me and described the food with passion and love. Wifey Loved the Pork Belly We love the charred ends, Delicious! The ribs were fall off the bone Delicious. The Brisket was so smokey and the hot links were incredible. I chose the Mac & Cheese Hot water cornbread collard greens and BBQ Spaghetti. That BBQ Spaghetti was Amazing! The sauce was boss and the sausage was on point. The collard greens were moist and had a slight tang to them, just how I like them! The Mac & Cheese never disappoints I took that hot water cornbread and threw some maple syrup on it. If your looking for the best smokehouse in AZ go to JL's. The place is nice and cozy and the music Playlist is inviting makes you feel like your back home, were ever home is for you. Never Disappoints JL is an artist and cooks with love. I'll be back next weekend for sure. read more

I did finally get most of my refund. I appreciate that. Still probably won't go back. ‍ read more

JL Smokehouse - Recieved and read but no response or refund made as of 3/13/24 ‍ - Barbeque Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Hands down, the best BBQ in AZ. I discovered this independent family restaurant from numerous recommendations and YouTube videos. Today, I ordered the pulled pork sandwich with a side of bbq beans. When my order arrived it was overstuffed with the most tender, juicy, and perfectly smoked pork I have ever eaten. It took a few minutes to fork it down before I could pick up the sandwich. An explosion of flavor and bbq perfection. The beans were expertly prepared and served with pride. I really enjoy visiting independent family run businesses. They really treat everyone like a long awaited friend Do yourself a favor and stop by to taste for yourself and bring friends read more

JL Smokehouse - Overstuffed pulled pork sandwich with a side of beans. Delicious!! - Barbeque Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

I had to check this spot out after hearing about the Ribs... unfortunately they were out but I had rib tips, chicken, brisket as I was "straddling the fence." I had to add an order of the smoked chicken wings as well! Everything was on point!!! I didn't get a chance to try the Peach Cobbler but that will be my next trip! The staff was extremely friendly and the food was delicious! Give them a try! I don't think you will be disappointed! read more

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I love this place BUT I am so disappointed came in today and got a plate with 3 meats and 2 sides greens and bbq beans were good but the rib tips,pork butt and brisket was BURNT no char but burnt I couldn't enjoy the meat most of it was over cooked read more

JL Smokehouse - Pork butt, rib tips and brisket - Barbeque Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

I drove past it so drive slow when you're pulling up. Lol - and not too far from the airport so great if you need somewhere close to flying in or out of Phoenix. I agree with another yelper that as soon as I opened my car door, I was met with the smell of the smoker. Yeeessss! Walked in and it definitely gave me a family, community, welcoming vibe. Everyone was super friendly and helpful. The pulled pork is amazing. You know the test of great BBQ is when you don't need to slather it in sauce. I didn't use an ounce of sauce on the pulled pork and it was flavorful and finger lickin delicious. I even made a little pulled pork slider with the roll they gave me, slid a little Mac and cheese in there and OMG. (Don't judge me..lol) All in all, I'll definitely be back next time I'm in Phoenix. read more

JL Smokehouse - Exterior - Barbeque Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

I come from the "hood" in California. BBQ everywhere in trucks, small stands, restaurants, everything. Soul food around. Everywhere I've tried near me is acceptable but I don't crave it. Except JL! Just tried it for the first time today with a whole van-load of family coming to visit from Cali and we were super duper impressed. Yes, it doesn't look like much. But don't judge a book by its cover! The flavors here are so amazing. We all had a different favorite. Mine's the pork belly and potato salad. read more

JL Smokehouse - Mark Wien platter with 6 meats. Amazing. - Barbeque Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

4.95 stars! What a great experience! Executive summary (full experience, see below): *One of the most welcoming and friendly restaurants I've been too *Outstanding bbq, moist, flavorful wonderful wood flavor, excellent bark *Exemplary sides! The attention and game they bring to their bbq also goes to their sides! Truly a homemade touch and unique delicious flavor to the sides * ate here in the evening and came back the next day as I was leaving Arizona, that's how good this place is! My experience: This was a wonderful bbq experience. When I first arrived they looked closed as I entered the driveway to park in the back. However when I got to the parking lot I could see the smokers going which to me when a bbq place is cooking all day, that's a great sign of the freshness of the meats! I was greeted by the gentleman doing the smoking which was so unexpected and his sincerity was truly genuine and kind! Inside the decor is straightforward which for me is also an excellent sign that the focus and attention is on the food! I was greeted at the register by the one of the most friendly and absolutely stunningly beautiful woman I've seen in a long time! Truly genuine warmth and welcoming person. Always amazing when a restaurant says " we are going to take care of you". There's only 3 other places I've eaten that have had such exemplary welcoming friendliness: Harold's fried chicken in Chicago Sweet Georgia Brown's in Dallas Willie Mae's Scotchhouse in New Orleans And this place is now added to that list :-) Food: Ribs: moist, flavorful Brisket: juicy, tender I love that the sauce is on the side!!!!!! That way you can experience the flavor, the moisture of the meat and the expertise of the pit master! Greens: perfect! Not overly salty, not overcooked or mushy, perfect amount of crunch Okra: wow, nice breading, excellent flavor not greasy Potato salad: must be grandma's recipe as I haven't had a well seasoned and uniquely flavored potato salad before: delicious. Sweet roll: thumbs up Why 4.95 and not 5 stars you say? Well it's was close and the dings were minor: 1. I wish I could have had a pat of butter for my roll; that would have been perfect but that's just my preference 2. They were out of soap in the bathroom or the soap dispenser wasn't working, I'm kind of stickler for that! Overall: highly recommend and will be a "must eat at" with every visit to Phoenix! read more

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This place is amazing! The owner is about his business and has great customer service skills. The woman with braids took order and she was very sweet and hardworking. I ordered the pulled pork nachos, ribs, mac & cheese and beans. The mac and cheese tasted very homemade. The beans weren't bad, but they did not taste like baked beans, more on the chili side. Nachos were very very good. not one issue. Also tried their house lemonade, very good. Parking is available in back of restaurant. wait time is a bit long, but it was all worth it. The food is impeccable. read more

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Finally got to stop by. I've been wanting to try the BBQ here for a long time. My overall rating is "pretty good". I think I over hyped myself on this place. Especially after watching Mark Wien's review. The breakdown: Brisket - wonderful, smokey bark. A little dry and not super tender. Falls way short of the brisket you can get at Little Miss. Pulled pork - juicy, and tender exactly how you hope it will be. Not a lot of flavor, but pour some sauce on it and it makes a great sandwich. Sausage - this was the shining star of today's meal. Absolutely wonderful smokey flavor. I will come back for this. I love brisket and this one was disappointing for me. Based upon today's serving I put this brisket, and JL's in third place behind Little Miss BBQ, and BobbyQ. Possibly first place for sausage. I still want to try a few other meats here, and the catfish dinner. I'll be back JL. read more

Oh man! Talk about delicious! This joint is worth every second of the 35 minute drive from our house to their restaurant. It is juicy, tender and mouth watering. If you haven't been, go, go now! We didn't try the ribs or collared but they look and smell delicious. I can't wait to try these on our next visit. Pro tip: do t miss out on the cobbler dessert read more

Oh oh oh ! This is my Jl smoke house shout out!! I can cook my lil bootae off but bbq is not my forte so when the Bbq cravings hit, I hit the block and run to Jl's .. mac and cheese alone is enough reason but there pork belly taco gets my tummy rumbling hahahaha then its on.. everything on the menu is good! Supporting our local family restaurants, keeps a smile on my face and it also keeps our South Side neighborhood thriving!! Gotta get there early before the goods are gone .. it be like at Jl's .. selling out so good! read more

Working this area & this popped up, local place not a chain & great reviews so let's go! Parking in the rear, little bumpy gravel, if you don't have a truck I wouldn't park in the rear, park on the parallel street. They have outside seating (I sat inside with the a/c pumping. Very basic inside, clean about 12 tables but some were stack up, maybe until needed. Felicia worked the counter, super friendly & helpful explaining the menu. The food comes in styrofoam containers with no utensils, eating here, weird. Felicia opens to show you the food before she gives it to you, gives you a bottle of BBQ sauce (only 1 flavor available), no butter for the "cornbread". The Brisket is AMAZING! So good. The sauce is a little thin but good flavor, the "cornbread" was good 1st time having this style & would've liked butter, maybe that's just me. ‍ I love butter . The punchline- very expensive! $16.01 for the brisket sandwich & cornbread. Sign of the times or standard? read more

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BarBQ is soooo good, you don't need the sauce. Remarkable! Diamond in the rough. Reasonable prices and delicious food both meats and sides. I travel the country and this is great "Que"! If you don't visit this family business, it's your loss. read more

The food is good, but it takes forever to place an order, over 20 mins. The staff is very rude and unprofessional. The restaurant is clean, the staff sucks. read more

House shopping in the area and stopped in for lunch. We were greeted by everyone working and being that we've never been here, they were very patient and explained anything we had questions about. I got 2 bones of ribs, probably the best I've ever had. The meat slid right off the bone. My boyfriend got the brisket sandwich and the meat was so tender. Great music playing and comforting feeling being inside. We will absolutely be coming back. read more

JL Smokehouse - Barbeque Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

First time trying this place and last time trying this place, ribs were terrible still had membranes and very little meat on the ribs, brisket was thick and fat was all over the brisket. Very hard to eat couldn't chew it I had to spit out the meat, the barbecue spaghetti was OK it had burnt links inside of it. That was hard. The bread was old and stale, maybe at one point this place had love and quality, but I did not get any of that in my first time order, and last time order. read more

JL Smokehouse - Brisket - Barbeque Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

All good can't miss going here. Catfish is my favorite, greens and the cabbage are the bomb..

I love this place so much! It's my family's go to spot for bbq. We love to come here and get some smoked ribs and brisket. We also get the Mac and cheese/collard greens. The service is always prompt and amazing. We try to come here at least once a month or more and keep coming back for the ambiance of some good home cooking. read more

JL Smokehouse - Brisket and Ribs with Mac and Cheese and Collard Greens - Barbeque Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Haven't been to JL in several years. There is a lot more staff on hand which means they are knocking it out of the park. I had the same things that I ate last time I was here. I brought my brother along for this ride. We ordered a 1lb of brisket, a 1/2 rack of ribs, baked beans, coleslaw, and some collard greens. What a meal. My brother kept saying " Man , this is the best ". The BBQ here is not sweet and slathered with BBQ sauce. It is on the side. That is the way to do it. Fall of the bone ribs. Brisket with a great smoke ring by the fat which at times just melts in your mouth. Love the sides too! Hands down my favorite BBQ joint in this neck of the woods !!! read more

There was a long wait and they were out of a lot of meats, but the food was SLAMMING so it was worth it. The brisket was tender. Sausage was very flavorful. All the sides Mac and cheese, spaghetti, corn bread were hitting. Good portions too. A lot of people called in orders ahead, and that seems to be the way to go. read more

BBQ place that doesn't know how to make good bbq sauce. Worst bbq sauce I've ever had. Basically tastes like poorly flavored ketchup water. The meat is a 6 out of 10 and the cornbread was greasy and flavorless and the baked beans were not very good either. They weren't even baked. They were just pinto beans cooked in flavored water. I got the spare ribs and they were super greasy, tough, and not a great flavor. It doesn't take much to make good bbq. I crank out some badass food at home in my Traeger all the time. They need to revamp their recipes because I would never come here again as it is. This place scores a blah from me. Not sure how they are still in business with all the mind blowing bbq joints around here. If you want, really good barbecue, go to Little Miss BBQ on University. It's bomb! read more

I live in San Diego California but visit my boyfriend here in Phoenix often. I was craving barbecue and looked up places on yelp. I landed across JL Smokehouse after going back and forth between 3 other BBQ spots. I chose JL Smokehouse! The food was made fresh & oozed flavor unlike any other. The portion sizes were great. The staff is beyond pleasant and I love how just friendly and down-to-earth they were. I think of this place often when I am home in San Diego and always look forward to coming to JL for when I crave BBQ! If you are on Yelp looking to try a BBQ spot - THIS IS YOUR SIGN that THIS is the spot you want to be at! Lets continue to support small businesses and especially POC black owned businesses. ENJOY! read more

I and my brother travelled from San Diego to Phoenix to go try JL Smokehouse. After parking we could smell the wafts of smoked meats coming from the smoker and we knew it was going to be good! We both got a whippersnapper to eat containing Pulled pork and Brisket. Bro got the BBQ Beans and I got the Mac N Cheese. The pulled pork was juicy and you could eat it without chewing it is that good. The bark from the pulled pork was delicious too. The brisket was so easy to pull apart and very delicious as well. For sure that pulled Pork was the best I've eaten. The Mac N Cheese was tasty and is spicy and definitely has a kick to it. I tried my brothers baked beans and they were delicious! I ordered a Slugger to take back to San Diego containing Smoked Sausage, Hot Link, Pulled Pork, Rib, Rib Tips, and Brisket. I opted for Collard Greens, Cole Slaw, Mac N Cheese... but I didn't get the BBQ Beans. So I got the 6 meats and 3 sides. I should have double checked my order before I left. My Mom loves the Collard Greens 5 out of 5 stars. And the Rib Tips are some of the tastiest I've had. The sauce is more savory with some spice to it and it compliments the meat well. It is a great BBQ experience where you can have the Quantity as well as the Quality. I really wanted to meet JL and take a picture with him but he was off today. If you come here from far away I recommend JL Smokehouse for some delicious BBQ read more

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The Brisket and the Pulled Pork have this smokey flavor that is quite nice. I did enjoy the pulled pork, but the texture of the brisket was like very rubbery. Also, the BBQ sauce was very watery. Unfortunately, the best thing I ate here isn't in the picture. The potato salad. It's spicy and sweet, yet savory. Probably one of the best potato salads I had and therefore I would go back. read more

JL Smokehouse - Brisket and Pulled Pork - Barbeque Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

WOW! The good: The lady at the counter was a total sweetheart..! The pulled pork was fantastic! The bad: I placed the order 3 hours ahead and paid for it adding a 20% tip. I said I would pick it up at 4:15 pm, I arrived at 4:14 pm, it wasn't ready until 4:50 pm! I ordered $61.00 worth of food. 2 types of meat and 2 sides were missing from my order. I drove 45 minutes there and 45 minutes back home. The place was understaffed and lack 5-star service. The food also lacked 5-star quality. The Rib-Tips were over smoked and burnt. When cleaning your public bathroom use Bathroom Clean-up Bleach. Windows and Mirrors should be cleaned before the place opens up. During your next renovation, you should replace the floor. That type of flooring for a restaurant should be cleaner friendly. Basic t-shirt uniforms are something you should think about. I've been grilling for 30-years and I started in St. Louis. My background is 35-years in the Hospitality industry. Whoever is manning the pit you should ensure they pit cook just like you!!! Your people can do better! This is post-review: The owner replied and offered a refund and a free meal. I'm going to decline them both and commend him on his professional business recovery. I do understand how tough it is to get employees to be passionate about everything they do, it's self representation. Always be the best! Thanks JL, I'll come back that way again! In a couple of years. read more

JL Smokehouse - Barbeque Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

First bbq experience in the PHX area and it was delicious!! But who am I to say bc I'm from California We ordered take out online and unfortunately arrived 15m past our pick up time which meant they skipped our order and we basically had to wait awhile to get our food! We weren't upset about it and happy that they would prepare it fresh. By the time we got there (6:15pm) they were also out of pulled pork, cabbage and corn bread! They refunded our cornbread and swapped our pork for chicken, cabbage for greens. We were able to try the chicken, brisket, pork belly, and ribs and the brisket was the clear winner!! It was delicious and I can't wait to go back to try the pulled pork, cabbage, and cornbread. read more

JL Smokehouse - Heavy hitter - Barbeque Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

It took 2.5 hours to get the food when ordering online and the driver, which isn't associated with the restaurant but an uber/eat24/etc. contractor - was totally unprofessional. The food here is always good though. I'd rate it a 4 for food, so maybe just delivering isn't recommended. I like going in-person and would recommend that for sure! read more

I decided to hit up JL Smokehouse for the first time for a late lunch today. I've always wanted to try it, but never got the chance. Long story short the food was delicious, although not what I expected. I ordered a beef brisket sandwich, Mac n cheese, and hot water cornbread. I started with the Mac N Cheese, my oh my was it delicious! It was unexpectedly a bit spicy (alotta black pepper I think) but it was cheesed to perfection. Next came the hot water cornbread, this, I'll admit, wasn't my jam, usually I expect the sweetness of a box of Jiffy this was a more savory cornbread, but it complemented the flavors of the meal really well. Last, I got to the brisket sandwich.. I was expecting a sweet smokey savory combo. Again, unexpectedly.. it was a delicious SUPER savory , sour, and smokey flavor. The first few bites had me at an "I'm not sure" place.. but then it became addictive until I devoured the massive portion he blessed my plate with! One of the best bbq brisket sandwiches I've had! Do you want a new and unique barbecue flavor you didn't know existed? Hit up JL Smokehouse.. they will take care of you! 5 stars! read more

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A true hole in the wall that honors their theme 'All Who Enter is Family', we were welcomed by Dee with a huge smile and fantastic attitude! They know their BBQ too. The Collard Greens are to die for! read more

What a great find this place is! Had a little time before we caught a flight out of Phoenix and this place popped up on my Yelp feed. It's so dinky and unassuming that I drove right past it the first time. Even on the second pass I wasn't sure if I was in the right place but I pulled into what looked like a driveway and parked in back in a dirt lot with no lines indicating parking spots so jut parked wherever. When I got inside a woman was at the counter but she headed towards the back of the restaurant for a few minutes where I couldn't see her. It gave me time to read the menu as well as the signs saying not to eat there if you aren't nice or patient because their food is a work of art and made with love. When she returned she was nice and when I asked which sandwich was best she said the brisket or pork belly and I opted for the brisket with a side of slaw. When my order was a up they called my name, I went up to the counter where a different woman handed me my food along with a bottle of their bbq sauce and some utensils. She had a friendly smile and seemed like she was a little tired but mostly satisfied with the work of art sandwich she had just made for me. I got the feeling she had made it with love as the sign said. When I got back to my seat I opened the small styrofoam container and saw a very simple sandwich. It caught me off guard a bit as I'm used to ordering sandwiches with plenty of toppings and to do but this was just a simple bun overloaded with brisket. So much brisket in fact I wasn't sure there was a bun on the bottom because I couldn't see it. I had to peel quite a bit of brisket away to find it. I did my best to pick up the sandwich and maintain as much brisket inside as I could and once I had the first bite I knew that I would have to devour the whole thing even though I wasn't quite that hungry. Every bite was moist and delicious on its own but I did add some sauce to several bites and that was tasty as well. The cole slaw was a solid compliment to the sandwich. Afterwards I was thinking it would have been good on the sandwich but that would have made it more difficult to eat since it was already stuffed with meat I couldn't contain inside. In the end, I left a very satisfied customer. This divey, hole in the wall did not disappoint. It is a hidden gem that Yelpers have discovered and it's only a matter of time before they are on the Yelp 100 list and are slammed with customers. If it does make it on the list I hope the attention doesn't change it. read more

JL Smokehouse - Delish Brisket Sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Food is great, great customer service. They make you feel welcome... The cooks and staff make your visit appreciated

Wow, this stuff is good. I went around 330 on Tuesday during there slow hours. We place our order and it did take quite a while to get the food.However it was well worth the wait! I had the Mark wine special with the following. Ribs, Brisket ,pulled pork, chicken, hot links, and boloney. My sides were green beans and potatoes, mac & cheese, coleslaw, okra and the BBQ spaghetti. I would say this is one of the best. If not the best BBQ I have ever eaten. The highlights for me were brisket, chicken, hot links, and coleslaw. My son like the polled pork and okra. Everyone like the mac & cheese. Overall 9.5 out of 10!!! if you like barbecue, I would say this is without a doubt a place you must try. read more

Visiting from CA to Phoenix and came here cuz it was the talk of the town. The rumors stand true. At JL smokehouse you can expect quality BBQ with huge portions. I personally orders the "Straddling the Fence" which includes 3 meats and 2 sides. Enough to feed 2 people maybe 3 if you enjoy portions. I ordered BBQ Pulled Pork, Hot Links, Ribs. With two sides of BBQ spaghetti and BBQ Beans. Let's talk food quality: Ribs: all time favorite. Meat melts off bone, right amount of sauce to meat ratio. Finished those quick Pulled Pork: average quality, could be more flavorful Hot links: one full dog sliced into pieces. I love hot links. Kind of oily tho but worth it BBQ Spaghetti: I never had this before. Will i buy it again? Yes. Sweet BBQ with tang and spice. Must try!! Beans: beans are beans. Nothing special. COVID-19 setup?: this place is allowing inside dining. Cool if it's empty but even so the tables are separate and all 6 feet apart. Well done guys! There is seating outside too if you enjoy the heat. Overall impression: If your a BBQ enthusiast then this place should be considered. The locals love it and as a visitor I'll be coming back. Great customer service and good food quality. All of my friends were happy. read more

JL Smokehouse - BBQ Pulled pork, Hot Links, Ribs, BBQ spaghetti + Beans w/ bread! - Barbeque Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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From The first moment you walk in, the smell is intoxicating. The pulled pork & brisket are deliciously flavored while the catfish has Just the right level of spice! read more

JL Smokehouse - 1/2 lb Rib Tips - Barbeque Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

This place was rated a 4.6 based on the average of the ratings it received from Yelp, Google, Facebook and TripAdvisor. I expected to taste pretty good for a 4.6 out of 5. I was seriously disappointed. Brisket was dry. Pulled Pork did not taste like pork, more like turkey and it was dry like turkey. We had macaroni and cheese but again, lacked flavor and creaminess. Even for a baked mac & cheese, you can make it creamy cheesy! Beans were alright, potato salad was good. Hot Water Cornbread tasted like a pancake. In my opinion, this place is a 1.5 but I gave it a 2 because the guy at the counter was super nice. read more

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What can I say? I can say that JL SMOKEHOUSE REDEEMED THEMSELVES. I went in today because like I mentioned in my review a few days ago, the ribs were FYAH but the tips were a bit tough and crispy. My people, don't sleep on JL. This brother puts his heart, soul and all into his products. The rib tips were LIT. So tender, cooked just right, nice spice to the seasoning. Oh and don't forget the sauce. SLAMMIN ALL AROUND. The staff once again was top notch and genuine in their customer service. #customers4life, #webeback read more

JL Smokehouse - What's left of my 1.5 pounds of rib tips - Barbeque Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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