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    Joe's Real BBQ

    4.1 (1.8k reviews)
    ModerateBarbeque
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Order Joe's Real BBQ Takeout or Delivery

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    JOE'S REAL BBQ ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Loud
    Casual
    Dogs allowed
    Good for kids

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    Birthday dinner got my house salad with brisket almost free!
    Phoebe M.

    Popular BBQ spot for us near downtown Gilbert. This place is always busy! The birthday credit $15 is a very good thing for loyal customers I enjoy the food here and Golden Sauce

    Debbie F.

    Found us an awesome BBQ spot! All my friends approved! The guys finished their entire plates. As for me, I'm the queen of leftovers, but it heated up nicely the next day. Located in downtown Gilbert, this spot is fantastic. It's walk up to order, cafeteria style, pay at the end of the line. Then you grab you drinks, condiments, etc in a separate area. The line moves fast. We visited 2x's...yes, it was that good!!! First visit was mid afternoon and a short line. Next go around had us waiting about 10 minutes as it was dinner time. There is a large indoor seating area with booths on the edges and bigger tables in the middle. There is also an outdoor seating area that's covered, plus a large outdoor patio that appears to service this restaurant and Topo. There is bench seating, rocking chairs, etc. A very nice open outdoor space. Back to the food. We all loved our meals. The BBQ was flavorful, not drenched in sauce (although if you love sauce, there is a sauce bar you can add more), side dishes were are getting rave reviews as we each ordered differently, and the solo friend that ordered the lemon cake ended up sharing with all of us cuz it was truly devine. I don't get to Gilbert much, but when I do, I will be back!!!

    My plate said it was a sandwhich but I saw no bread?
    Allen C.

    As me myself being a person whom likes to make bbq I am often hard on others food as most people whi truly cook are. I must say i enjoyed my experience and the food at Joe's. The staff are really nice and helpful. I appreciated that very much. The food was very good and I loved the soda and beer selects even more. The root beer was not what I expected but I liked the red creme soda even more. The place in a great location along with the rest of the restaurants in the area. It is called the POPA district, can someone tell me what that means, I dont remember. I felt lucky enough to buy the last 1 of their t-shirts in my size. Cool place, if I ever come back I will definitely go again.

    Mac and cheese & cheesy potatoes
    Claudine C.

    There's so many good food options in the downtown Gilbert area but I'm glad we tried Joe's!! I didn't love the styrofoam to go containers but that's just my own preference and has nothing to do with the food which was really good! I ordered to go but their service is really fast here. It's cafeteria style so they have it all ready for you to order. I prefer the chopped brisket over the sliced (too fatty for me). Theres 3 different bbq sauce to choose from, the spicy one was my fav and had a nice kick to it! The sides were pretty decent. Cornbread was on the sweeter side if your into that. The mac wasn't the best I've had but worth trying. The cheesy potatoes weren't my fav, but for the price, I'm not mad at it.

    Two meat plate with two additional sides

    I've been here twice, the first time the food was good. There was more fat on the brisket than I'd prefer but overall good. I got the 4 meat plate with Mac and cheese as my side. However, my second time wasn't good. I got the two meat plate with ribs and a hotlink, Mac and cheese as my side, and on the side I got braised greens and baked beans. The mac and cheese was old and the ribs were tough. The ribs taste like they were overcooked or had been sitting out for a while. I got a side of baked beans and braised greens. I didn't realize the braised greens would be spinach. The beans had too much going on in my opinion but the flavor was okay. The cornbread and hot link were fine. But come on now with the old ribs and mac and cheese. Very disappointing and to think I spent more money this go around, $30 to be exact not worth it at all. Won't be returning.

    Sampler
    Adam S.

    Good barbecue at a great price. I had the sampler for around $20. I enjoyed the ribs and chicken the most. Slap some of the gold sauce on the ribs...delicious! The chicken was smoked just right. The pulled pork was a close third. Spicy BBQ sauce with just the right amount of kick, cornbread with honey butter, BBQ beans and cobbler for dessert. Joe's own tasty root beer. Everything was awesome. First of all, I am from Texas and very picky with brisket. Killen's and Truth BBQ in Houston, Franklin in Austin...some of the best barbecue in the state. Nice smoke ring, pink meat. Tender and not greasy. Joe's brisket was not for me. Overcooked and greasy, not much of a smoke ring. Maybe I caught them on a bad day. In all fairness, in Houston, I would probably pay for one meat what I paid in Gilbert for 4 meats. Overall a great deal. I wanted to grab some of the gold sauce before I left, but will need to get that next time. I will definitely return. Happy, friendly service in a picnic-like setting (seat yourself, similar to Rudy's BBQ).

    4-meat sampler plate
    Emily L.

    Even through the rapid expansion of the Valley, Joe's Real BBQ still holds up as one of the best barbecue joints! Everything here is pecan-smoked to perfection and wonderfully tender. You can't really go wrong, but the 4-meat sampler plate is a great assortment of some of their best items. Brisket is my absolute favorite -- it's super tender and something between fatty and lean -- and ribs, chicken, and pulled pork are fantastic too. Plus, even as someone who isn't huge into BBQ sauce, I would slather my dishes with Joe's original sauce. It hits the right spot between acidity and sweetness. Cornbread is perfect, especially with honey butter, but the secret superstar: pickles. They are SO crunchy and fresh, balancing the savory heaviness of the meats. And you can get more at the bar! For the included side, I always recommend cheesy potatoes. Parking is easy on the east side of the building, and birthday meals are $14 off with ID. The new-ish patio is big with courtyard games, metal rocking chairs, and lots of extra seating. Highly recommend! Bonus tip: they have a super cool analog photo booth! Try it out!

    Bbq chicken salad!
    Aini R.

    We love the bbq chicken salad here. The staff was kind enough to split the salad for us. The salad portion is huge! The place is cafeteria style.

    House Salad w/Meat
    Michelle M.

    My family has dined at Joe's Real Barbecue several times for birthday celebrations. One of the reasons we keep coming back is their birthday deal...you get $14 off your meal, which brings us in multiple times a year. My absolute favorite item is the house salad with chopped brisket and sauce. I asked which meat was the juiciest, and the staff recommended the brisket...it was a great choice. It was so flavorful with the brisket, green onions, and black olives that I didn't even need the dressing (though the dressing is delicious too). I skipped it to save on calories, and the salad was still amazing! Brisket is a premium meat, so it's an extra $1, but it's totally worth it, especially since I can skip the dressing and still enjoy it. Another favorite of mine is the jumbo baker--especially when carbs aren't a concern. Both the salad and the jumbo baker are generously portioned and very filling. My husband and I have even shared in the past so we could save room for dessert. When the weather's nice, Joe's offers both indoor seating and picnic tables outside. Our kids love the outdoor games like cornhole and Twister...it's a great family-friendly atmosphere.

    Sampler
    Patrick L.

    Every time I see Joe's BBQ it's been packed with cheerful and happy folks enjoying the food and vibes of the place so I had to give it a shot myself. Definitely a bang for your buck to share the sampler (22$). It comes with ribs, chicken, brisket, pork, cornbread, and a side of your choice (I chose the beet salad). The ribs were the highlight of the meal for me personally because of the balance of sweetness in the sauce that sticks to the tender meat. With the pork, there was more to be desired because this certain serving was more on the dry side but not terrible at all by any means just unlucky. I'd give this place a shot with family and friends if you want to have a good vibe eating hardy barbecue!

    Potato salad
    Jann L.

    We were traveling through the Mesa/Gilbert area & decided to try Joe's Real BBQ. Parking is a little difficult especially on the weekend but there's plenty of seating to make up for it. The restaurant was super busy with conversation being easy to have, the decor classic, restrooms clean & well stocked. The employees were friendly, polite & offered recommendations if asked. The brisket & pulled pork was absolutely delicious perfectly smoked & moist. The chicken & ribs were also delicious. We were extremely happy with everything we ordered that we ended up ordering to go orders to take with us to a family gathering we were heading to. Joe's Real BBQ truly understands what delicious BBQ is.

    Norm W.

    It's been more than a few years since I was at Joe's BBQ. Consistent , reliable service and food. Had the two meat platter. Selected the sliced brisket, pulled pork, cornbread and a side of potato salad. Place still has a great hometown rustic vibe. Way more than enough food, the 1 meat platter would have been sufficient. The sliced brisket was exceptional and in my opinion, their signature dish. All good here, lots of restaurant choices in the area.

    Peach cobbler... how long it's been
    Brett B.

    What a great place to celebrate a birthday! The line servers were so hospitable and friendly, exactly what you'd expect if the Walton's went for a meal on the town We ordered a 2 meat platter, with sliced brisket and ribs. Both were succulent, but that moist brisket is some of the best we've ever had. Great Americana ambiance with homemade BBQ sauce, and... Homemade Root Beer on fountain! The best root beer you'll find is right here, and they can serve it as a float. The Mac and cheese is tasty with a breadcrumb topping, and the potato salad was ok. If you have any room left in your breadbasket, then finish off your meal with a peach cobbler, a la mode. I was happier than a squealing pig running through a pen full of farmer's daughters.

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    Always trying new bbq places, but nothing compares to Joe's my family finds ourselves coming back often! Always consistent and so delicious

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    5 months ago

    Always good! Weather is perfect just like the food and service! And Topo ice cream afterwards! Love it! Highly recommend!

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    Ask the Community - Joe's Real BBQ

    Is the BBQ sauce gluten free? I have a guest with celiac who can't eat gluten and would like to take her here. Please don't answer if you don't know.

    Yes. I am celiac and eat here ALOT!! Food is excellent. I believe all the meat is. Half the sides and the sauces are too. Sometimes vinegar bothers me so I do light sauce.

    Do you guys have a photobooth in the plaza of your restaurant?

    No, great place with photo oops outside !

    Can I reserve two tables for a party of 12? (Just called them. No reservations for parties less than 20).

    We don't take reservations for parties less than 20 as they aren't really needed and you should have no problem with a group of that size. We have over 200 air conditioned seats and nearly that many in the park outside. If your group has special… Read more

    Are dogs on leashes welcome in the outdoor patio area?

    I was told by someone that worked there that they are allowed

    Are the hot links spicy? Wondering if they would be good for my children.

    Not too spicy

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Reminds me of an elevated L&L. I pretty much only want to get Chicken Katsu because I can never…read morereplicate it from a restaurant. When I tried this place, we got a mini katsu and a plate. We were able to replace the sides with more rice at no extra charge for the plate which was really nice. Honestly, it was way too much rice, so next time I'd just omit the sides altogether if I was to reorder this. The mini katsu was more than enough as well. Each piece was perfectly crispy. I loved the steamed veggies. They were unseasoned and balanced out the katsu very well. Worth the price (which was very accurate to the meal and the quality).

    I'm giving this place a 4.2/5. It's pretty good for a Hawaiian BBQ spot…read more I got the Teriyaki chicken regular plate with all rice. The chicken was really good and cooked pretty much perfectly. It doesn't have that "char" to it that Hawaiian's cook it like (if you know, you know), but it was cooked almost perfectly imo. The rice wasn't a true Hawaiian sticky rice, but close enough. It almost had more of an Asian texture to it. But it was still good. There was a lot of food, of which I'd expect from a Hawaiian spot. The teriyaki sauce was pretty tasty. It wasn't the best teriyaki sauce I've ever had, but it's a lot better than Ono's Hawaiian BBQ (their chicken teriyaki is trash!). The service was good and fast! The inside was clean and tidy. Was it the best I've ever had? No. But it's good enough to share it with my friends, invite them to go, and go back myself. I'll need to try the chicken katsu and bbq short ribs next time.

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    Little Miss BBQ-University

    Little Miss BBQ-University

    4.7
    (3.2k reviews)
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    Note: I dream about the food here, and I don't dream often…read more The service is amazing and they really are quite kind despite the large number of people always in line. Take you friends here and definitely give their hard cider a go! -------------- Food Items: - smoked brisket: it was flavorful and just absurdly amazing. Additionally, the spice blend is amazing. The meat is just super tender and hardly tastes dry at all. A must have. - sausage: I cannot speak for this because of my dairy allergen and they weren't quite sure but definitely seems great - pork smoked ends: These were absolutely my favorite. From the sauce to the tenderness and the distinct umami from the wood smoke mixing into the pork and the fat from the cut being so tender it just melts on your tongue. Overall you have to go here and this is one of my favorite restaurants, and TAKE your friends here! The ambiance is great and the music isn't too loud where you cannot hear each other!

    Came here due to all of the good reviews but I was highly disappointed. It was $90 for 2 adults and…read more1 kids plate. The jefe was good but my Mac n cheese portion was tiny and the noodles were too firm. Kids plate was a joke too, came with 2 small pieces of brisket and 2 smalllllll sides. Don't order the potato salad unless you love onion, it's all you can taste. The banana pudding was good, but I've had better. I won't be returning unfortunately.

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    The Jefe sandwich - smoked sausage, chopped brisket, sauce, pickles, slaw.
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    Brisket, Fatty Brisket, Pork Ribs, Turkey and Pulled Pork.

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    Brisket, Fatty Brisket, Pork Ribs, Turkey and Pulled Pork.

    Joe's Real BBQ - bbq - Updated July 2026

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