From the moment you step inside Mad Jack's, you will be greeted by friendly staff, a Disney Land style line queue with great theming and awards on the walls, and of course, the unbeatable aroma of some of the best smoked meat you will EVER have. I'll keep this short and put my Yelp flag proudly in the ground right here in Cloudcroft, New Mexico. As somebody who lives in Tennessee and travels regularly all across the map. I think that Mad Jack's may be the best BBQ I've had in the entire US (full stop). This is indeed the barbecue spot you've been looking for! There is one reason alone that I walked away mad from my experience at Jack's. It was the realization that this incredible establishment is so far away from me and now all other barbecue spots will now pale in comparison. Well played, Jack... well played. ------------------------------ Experience Grade: Ambience: A+ Service / Staff: A+ Barbecue: A++ read more

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Pork ribs are very average. So if they are out of the specialty ribs, try the brisket. The half chicken looked awesome. Cornbread is huge and delicious! Service was awesome. Sunday and we were in line from 11 till one, but the weather and the people were all very pleasant, May 31, 2026. An abundance of seating inside and covered outside. read more

Fantastic food. Best BBQ I've ever had. Opens at 11 get there to stand in line about 9:30-10. It's an experience, so don't go if you are short on time this is an all morning into afternoon thing. NEED: Mac n cheese, pork ribs read more

Mad Jack's Mountaintop Barbecue - Pork ribs, Mac n cheese, brisket, sausage, potato salad - Barbeque Near Me - Cloudcroft, New Mexico

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Briskets & all the offerings were a pleasant surprise. I wasn't expecting much from this place but it absolutely satisfied my taste buds. Service was excellent! Inside was warm & has enough space between tables. One of the best! Everyone was great Definitely recommended. read more

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Best Brisket outside of Texas. The Mac and Cheese was some of the best restaurant style. We will be back.

06/19/2025 Thursday 11:15am. This is the real deal. Brisket was amazing, smoky peppery goodness. The rib was very good. Bustling and great atmosphere. Waiting outside is frustrating as 1 person will hold a spot and then a group of 3 or 4 or more will join them! Okay.... read more

The brisket was perfect! The half chicken was perfect! The green chile sausage and the cornbread were great! Best bbq the wife and I have ever had! read more

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Most of the time the wait is completely worth the food, but today I would say it was not. Waited in line for 2 hours, got assured 3 times that there would in fact be enough food for me. I finally get inside and am waiting to be helped at the front, just for the worker to come out and say no more brisket. I understand there is a certain amount, and I know they run out. However you should not have a worker coming and ensuring guests will in fact be able to eat. I find it unprofessional and ridiculous, you had about 50 customers that had to leave because of this. And then wanted to offer "hotdogs and potato salad" like anyone came to mad jacks for that. Terrible service. read more

This place was such a great experience!! The restaurant opens at 11:00am sharp!! But the line to get in starts around 9:00am. So be prepared to get there early and stand in line for some great BBQ. They have the menu outside while you are waiting so prepared to know what you want. As soon as you walk in you'll need to place your order. Once you place your order you are given a tray and you go down the line to be given your food. Once you get your food then you pay and can seat yourself. They have Dino ribs as big as your head that fall right off the bone! And the burnt ends are amazing! So juicy, tender and flavorful. It can be a little pricy but the quality and amount makes it worth it. Ambiance was cozy and felt like home. You can tell this is a local favorite! read more

Visited around 3pm on Saturday and they'd sold out of most meat. Only had chicken, turkey and chopped brisket. Opted for chopped brisket sandwiches. The Chili the Kid is chopped brisket with green hatch chilis on the best sourdough bun you'll ever eat. Got the Twisted Brisket sandwich which is chopped brisket, sausage and jack cheese on best sourdough bun you'll ever eat. We are Texans, so very picky on BBQ...this place is legit delicious. Great smoky brisket, served with large slices of dill pickles, white onion and pickled jalapenos. Do yourself a favor, get the sandwich...that bun, boy oh boy, that bun! read more

Mad Jack's Mountaintop Barbecue - 12/13/25 - Barbeque Near Me - Cloudcroft, New Mexico

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Mad Jack's is a wonderful destination in Cloudcroft. We got in line a few minutes before they opened at 11 am and they took our order right at 1 pm. It's nice that there are benches for seating while waiting in line. We read other reviews so we knew this place was popular and that there is normally a line when choosing to eat here. The service is top notch. Everyone we spoke with was friendly and helpful. The employees are passionate about their craft and work well together to create a fantastic experience for customers. We tried a few sandwiches, a Dino beef rib, and the sides of mac & cheese and potato salad. Everything was delicious and we took some leftovers home. read more

Mad Jack's Mountaintop Barbecue - Barbeque Near Me - Cloudcroft, New Mexico

Worth the detour and worth the line, Mad Jack's is one of my all-time favorite barbecue spots. You are guaranteed to wait, but the staff is so friendly and so excited about what they do by the end of it, you won't even be thinking about how long you waited. We got there around noon on Sunday and waited probably about 45 minutes in line. They run out of things throughout the day and they announced it as they do but when we got there, only one thing was out. By the time we got to the head of the line, there were a handful of things, but I got everything I wanted so I can't complain. I got the turkey sandwich with green chile and it was absolutely amazing. One of my all-time top sandwiches probably. I also got a side of sour cream, potato salad, and a blackberry cobbler. The cobbler was so good and so was the potato salad. Again, I don't think you can go wrong with anything here and the service is so friendly. read more

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An absolute must stop if passing through Cloudcroft! Was worried it wouldn't live up to the hype but definitely the best bbq I've had in a long time. If going on a weekend get there early. We waited 1.5 hours and got there a half hour before they opened. The service was great and staff was extremely friendly. There is plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. Patio is dog friendly. Typical bbq style decor. read more

Mad Jack's Mountaintop Barbecue - Barbeque Near Me - Cloudcroft, New Mexico

If you're anywhere near Cloudcroft, Mad Jack's Mountain Top BBQ is an absolute must. Real Texas barbecue on a snowy mountain in New Mexico, cooked by true Texas pit masters--that alone makes it unique, but the food pushes it into legendary territory. The staff is friendly and genuinely engaging, and Mad Jack himself was there when we visited, serving up some of the best barbecue I've ever had. The flavors are bold, rich, and exactly what good Texas BBQ is supposed to taste like. We ordered the brisket sandwich, ribs, mac and cheese, and potato salad. The highlights were easily the brisket and ribs. The brisket sandwich was the best I've ever had--perfect bark, melt-in-your-mouth tenderness, and incredible flavor. The ribs? They're absolutely in my top three of all time. I'm a rib guy, so deciding whether they're #1, #2, or #3 is impossible... but they're unquestionably elite. The location itself is beautiful--a rustic, cozy BBQ joint perched on a snowy mountain top. There will be a line, and it'll be long, but it's worth every minute. Just be sure to get there early because, as all great barbecue places do, they sell out. Mad Jack's is the real deal. I'll be back every chance I get. read more

Mad Jack's Mountaintop Barbecue - Forgot to take pics of food. Enjoy G. Fieri with a massive hawg instead. M.Jacks has merch! Pick up a hoodie! - Barbeque Near Me - Cloudcroft, New Mexico

Cant believe it! NO line at Mad Jacks. Thursday at 12:30. Wow! This is the best bbq ever. We had a 1.88lb Dino rib, could cut it with a fork, brisket, green chile sausage and great baked beans. All was so good. We have been coming here for years. As usual the store was clean and the staff was super friendly. read more

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Food was 10 out of 5 Service could not be more friendly or prompt Typical ambience of a great Barbecue place, just like grandma's place, making sure you get enough food and drink! read more

So this place is amazing! I don't need to flood the fees with the lengthy type review, as everyone else already has. Bottom line up front: I'm a freaking Yelp Gold Elite. Just accept my word as Gold, and believe me when I say: EAT HERE! Mad Jack himself is often present and is such a great dude! They give military discount. They have indoor and outdoor seating. Recommend sitting outdoors if the weather is nice because it's beautiful up there. Listen again: EAT HERE. This Gold elite stood in line for an hour to get some brisket, Turkey, sausage, Mac-n-cheese... and id stand in line to do it again. When not racing motorcycles at the track, we often like to ride still, out in nature. Away from the city (because why have race bikes just to go stop light to stop light). And when we do ride, there is no better area that has corners that often can replicate the track, than Cloudcroft. Being that it's an hour away from my home in El Paso... we always stop at Mad Jacks to refuel. This place is great! Go try i read more

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My my, where do I even begin. This review is well overdue but nonetheless, I feel like it's much needed. When we arrived to Mad Jack's, the line was to the end of the building. As we approached, we could smell the delicious aromas wafting through the mountain air. We waited online for about 1 hour which seemed to go by pretty quickly. The workers are so welcoming and the food was to die for! All of the meats were so flavorful and succulent! The brisket is some of the best I've ever had and the peach cobbler is the perfect ending to any meal here! read more

Mad Jack's Mountaintop Barbecue - Brisket, honey corn bread, Mac n cheese - Barbeque Near Me - Cloudcroft, New Mexico

What a great surprise to find a place like this in the little town of Cloudcroft! We didn't finish our hike until late, so we didn't get to the restaurant until after 2:00. Unfortunately by that time they were out of everything except for chopped beef sandwiches. Fortunately they were the best beef sandwiches we've ever had, without a doubt. The meat was tender and juicy, the peppers and onions gave a great kick and the bun was toasty and buttered. A PERFECT sandwich. The owner was there walking around and talking to everyone, making sure that we were taken care of. If we ever make it back to Cloudcroft, we'll absolutely stop here again. read more

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A friend of mine from the East Coast was the first to recommend MJMB to me when she learned we were moving to Las Cruces, NM. It's only about an hour and 20 mins from our home. The Saturday after Thanksgiving seemed like a great day to make the trip out to Cloudcroft. Lots of friends here in Las Cruces recommended we get there by 10AM, which we did.... the restaurant opens at 11AM. There was already a good line formed by the time we got there an hour before opening. Everyone in line was nice and conversational so even though it was cold, the time went by quickly. The food is ordered and served cafeteria-style, so even though we were in line early, it wasn't until about 11:45am that we got to the front to place our order. Between the three of us, we ordered: Devine Swine (pulled pork sandwich), Dino bone (beef rib), Chopped Brisket sandwich, Green Chile Sausage, Corn bread, 1/2 pint beans, pint mac n cheese, side of pickles and Peach cobbler for dessert. Meats: Hands-down the best BBQ any of us had ever tasted. My husband is a born and raised Texan who loves his BBQ meats... and he confirmed! It was definitely worth the drive and the wait. The sausage was great, but the skin was a little difficult for a toddler/small child to manage. Corn bread and Mac and cheese are must-have sides! They are phenomenal! The beans, the can leave off the menu. Sad to say we ended up tossing what we didn't taste. Dessert: It was OK... but when we heated it up in the air fryer the next day?! It went from OK to DAYUM that's good! They have a good seating area outside, but it's so cold, nobody used it. The inside seating area is pretty small, but surprisingly the turnover of diners went pretty smoothly. Last but not least, I have to mention the people! So sweet!!! The lady who bakes stopped to chat with us and she's just the nicest. Mad Jack himself made every guest feel appreciated for coming to the restaurant. If you're ever even within 2 hours of Mad Jack's, I highly recommend making the trip to experience the food for yourself. We'll definitely be back again. read more

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Waiting in line this the early cool morning with fellow barbecue lovers getting whiffs of post oak smoke only heightened my excitement. People talking about brisket, their favorite places, and bragging about how long they've waited today and other times. With this atmosphere and excitement in the crowd, you'd think I was in a Texas Top 50 location. Actually I am 8,600 ft above sea level in the mountain of New Mexico hungrily queued for Mad Jack's. The restaurant looks like a cabin restaurant blending seamlessly into the beautiful surround area. The drive up & down through the Lincoln National Forrest was beautiful and I imagine normal people doing that drive without the sole goal of eating brisket. I can't imagine a mountain top bbq spot being more perfect. Both the brisket and the beef short rib were amazing. Talking to Jack and tasting myself, both are heavily seasoned. Reminded me of how old school bbq joints found in Lockhart are a bit more salty than the current craft bbq. A taste that I enjoyed especially with the beef rib. The moment my teeth sunk into the meat, a flash flood of juices rushed into my mouth. As I bit away, I could see moisture flowing out. I got both sausages, but I would rec the green chili one especially for bbq lovers. Its holds a diff flavor to highlight that I am actually in NM despite the food in front of me. Of the sides, the sour cream potato salad was perfect. Every time I felt the meat sweats coming on, I would take a spoonful and the tartness would help move more and more brisket into my belly. I legitimately was eating the Dino rib while driving all the way to the airport. Oh! Also I loved how they would wrap each meat individually in butcher paper similar to the Kruez or Smitty's experience truly showing how Mad Jack's was influenced by Lockhart. I forgot to try their sauce. The next time I get a chance to come out. read more

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Worth the wait!!!!! Best BBQ I ever had, definitely a top ten place in the US. The brisket, ribs, and sausages are in believable, the turkey was awesome as well, was not expecting it to be so fantastic. The sides are equally as great as well, loved the coleslaw and potato salad. Utterly a class place worth the trip too. read more

Amazing! Best bbq I've ever had! Stood in line about an hour and so worth it! I suggest getting there early otherwise they could run out of food. Can't wait to eat it again. My husband got the brisket and said it was the best he ever had. I got the triple threat baked potato. We also got the brisket chili and man it was delicious read more

Mad Jack's Mountaintop Barbecue - Menu - Barbeque Near Me - Cloudcroft, New Mexico

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Delicious!!!!! Brisket melts without a huge fat layer. Beef Dino rib was amazing. Bbq sauce wasn't too sweet. Mac and cheese and Cole slaw were amazing. I just loved my time. All employees were happy and chatty enjoyed being there. I really think the dining room employee stole the show. Very customer service forward. On top of everything. I serve , and noticing a guest is sitting at a table with a closed Mexican coke , and employee insists to walk to the bottle opener to open for the coke the guest is amazing read more

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What can I say. Best BBQ in New Mexico as far I can recommend. Heck Mad Jack's beats even the great establishments of Lockhart TX where Mr. Jack is originally from. Jack recruits the best staff and they make you feel welcome the moment you get up to the line to order. They love interacting with each guest. Many have followed Mr. Jack from Texas! The place has an old school mountain cabin vibe and a great new out door dining area that tends to serve just sandwiches and sides that vary every day so you just need to check the little menu board for that days food. Wife and I love, love the brisket. No question about it, we both think it's the best we ever had. The pork ribs are super meaty and fall off the bone, but with a lot of bite to it. Nice pepper flavor and only enough smoke to balance out some of the pork flavor. The sausage is awesome with a great crisp and definitely not dry. The turkey is moist and not too smoky with just the right amount of poultry flavor. Sometimes turkey just tastes too much like turkey. The cornbread is delicious, but very sweet. The sour cream potato salad is good, but definitely heavy on the sour cream. Baked beans are super good, but sweet as well. Have yet to try their chicken or dino beef ribs, but definitely will on the next trip. Expect to wait in line a couple of hours on the weekends unless you just want a sandwich or something from the outside menu that tends to have a much shorter line. read more

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I can see why this place is rated so well! I came here due to a recommendation and they weren't kidding about the long wait! Came here right when it opened and already there was a long line. While this place is well known, they run out of meat quick! Was able to end up what was available, which were the chopped brisket and green chile sausages. Well worth the wait! The chopped brisket was amazing! It was rich and savory, and also buttery at the same time. Each bite was so flavorful and could not get enough of it! Also got the coleslaw, beans, and the best one of all, their corn bread. Whatever they put on top is amazing! That glaze just spot on. I get why they run out so quick! People will come from afar and order in pounds! Best BBQ place in New mexico! read more

This place is worth the drive to New Mexico! I grew up in Kansas City and now live in Texas so I have been surrounded by bbq my whole life and Mad Jacks is a definite must have. They opened at 11 and by the time we got there at 1:30 they were sold out of everything but the chopped brisket and it was the best I have ever had! This place is the real deal and I can't wait for them to open their Texas location. You won't be disappointed but get there early!! read more

All the food is great! Brisket is the best. Sides are good too. Long line but it's well worth it. read more

Mad Jack's Mountaintop Barbecue - Mad Jacks full menu - Barbeque Near Me - Cloudcroft, New Mexico

Just a good fun place to stop in anytime there's a short line as a local, or to bring out-of-town guest to.

The owner was very welcoming and kind, and I loved his genuine conversations while we were waiting outside and while he was cutting up our brisket. We were the second in line when they opened at 11 AM, then was seated with our food by 11:15 AM. I love the atmosphere and the set up of the establishment, I felt as if I was getting the real Texas bbq experience. The food: BY FAR THE BEST BRISKET IVE HAD IN MY LIFE. Even better than the brisket that I had at that Black's BBQ joint I had in Austin, TX. The sides were delicious and we had so much leftover food for later. The sides were good as well, but the brisket was the star of the show. I enjoyed the ribs but MAN, that melt in your mouth brisket was the highlight of this visit. The bark of the brisket was perfect and my fork poked through the entire slice of the brisket like BUTTER! Definitely will be back for the food and the atmosphere. Thank you for the wonderful dining experience, Team Mad Jack's! read more

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Came here off of a suggestion and was not disappointed. They open at 11, and if you don't wanna wait in line too long and want to make sure you get what you're craving, get there early. Dont do what I did and get there an hr later. BUT the wait was well worth it. They have outdoor seating and an area there to order food, but it's just sandwiches and burritos and a few sides. The full menu is inside. Took roughly an hr to finally order, I was really looking forward to the "Dinosaur Rib," which is a smoked beef rib, but that sold out. I ended up getting a brisket and sausage sandwich, potato salad, and bread pudding. I was given some sample brisket for wearing my Dallas Cowboys polo, lol. Man, that is 100% central Texas Brisket. Heavy on the pepper and salt crust, smoke was very pronounced, and meat was perfectly cooked and moist. The sandwich I got was so amazing, buns were toasted and staked with a good amount of meat. My only gripe is the potato salad was mediocre, and the bread pudding was a bit dry. Honestly, though, I was there for the carnivorous activities. It's my first time here, and I will 100% come back. The drive from El Paso or Ruidoso is worth the trek. read more

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My family and I stood in line about 10:45 on a Thursday. There were many in line before and after us. A small line was outside the door when we left about noon. I can vouch for the Mad Mac, brisket with mac and cheese. It came with BBQ sauce and I do not like BBQ sauce at all. This was so sweet and so good! Everyone was extremely nice and welcoming. Jack greeted people in line while we were waiting and was serving on the line (photo shown). My family and I recommend trying Mad Jack's at least once! read more

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Hands down the best Barbecue joint above 4000 feet! Jack has figured out how to put out some of the best Texas BBQ! He used real Texas Post Oak he gets from Lockhart himself, doesn't cut corners, makes all his own deserts and sausages, and you will never go away unsatisfied. In fact, this Barbecue will change your life! read more

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Amazing service and food! Would easily drive an hour out of our way to eat here. We are from Southern California and wish we had one there! Best BBQ Brisket we have ever had! read more

The VERY BEST BBQ I've ever had and I've lived and been all over the country. The brisket is outstanding, but so is everything else. The people are over the top friendly. If you are ok with waiting in a crazy long line, and we are, then you will not be disappointed. read more

Got there early and waited in line for about hour before it opened. I know it gets really packed and the line gets long so we made sure to be there just in time. I ordered a slab of pork ribs and half pound of sliced brisket along with a side of Mac n cheese and pinto beans. Brisket was so tender and juicy, just delicious. Ribs were just as delicious. Great taste and bbq sauce was real good. My daughter said the Mac n cheese was the best she ever tasted. Fresh corn bread straight out the oven was tasty. I took home a bottle of bbq sauce to enjoy on my own bbq. My first time and looking forward to coming back soon. read more

Mad Jack's Mountaintop Barbecue - Pork ribs. - Barbeque Near Me - Cloudcroft, New Mexico

The food was absolutely amazing, I could eat the brisket all day. The service was great all of the workers looked like they where happy. The ambiance was super cool it made me feel at home. This has now earned itself a special place in my heart as my favorite restraint I have ever eaten at. read more

Some truly exceptional barbecue. The food gets seven stars. I took one star off for waiting over an hour outside before you can even order. I also took off one star for the ambiance- just tables and paper towels with a loud and noisy room. We had the brisket sandwich with green chilis, the pulled pork sandwich, and chili made with brisket (a daily special). Everything was epically good - even the pickles are top notch. read more

ABSOLUTELY OUTSTANDING! Some of the best brisket my family and I have had and the service was incredible! Would definitely make a cross-country trip to eat here again! read more

In my opinion, a visit to Cloudcroft is not complete without stopping in for some delicious barbecue from Mad Jacks. If you visit on a weekend, be prepared that there may be a bit of a wait to sit down and eat. It is worth it though! read more