Yes, yes, and YES!!! Absolutely MAD for the Jack's! So the first and only time so far that I have visited was practically a last minute, spur of the moment get away and we barely made it here for the last maybe 30 minutes of their business hours. I was already hungry since before we ventured from El Paso, so needless to say, I was READY for meats! lol At first, the lady said they only offered sandwiches at that point, which already was a huge let down. I'm just not the biggest fan of sandwiches right off the bat, especially for a BBQ spot. I need cuts of meat and lots of it! And I particularly love potato salad to have its sweeter flavor compliment the salty flavors of smoked BBQ. Luckily, somebody was nice enough to allow us a pound of their cut up brisket after I inquired politely. Spirits super lifted from that! So a pound of brisket, 2 sausage rings, and a thing of potato salad later, we sat our happy asses down outside one of their picnic tables. It was a PERFECT day in Cloudcroft, so why not enjoy the outdoors with this meal? We were also saving most of the brisket for dinner but I was famished, so Lord knows I needed to eat! Everything was absolutely delicious!! I have never had a smoked sausage so fresh that the meat was crumbly but worked so well for its flavor profile! Brisket was perfectly smoked and tender as well. Their potato salad was also delish and at first, I wasn't sure if the sour cream one was better than the mustard one. I figured sour cream is perfect since it would be like a baked potato... and oh, but it was! Been dreaming of the day we make a trip up here again for their delectables! Next time, I am not missing out on their peach cobbler and going all out! read more

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We tried Mad Jack's Mountaintop Barbecue on Friday at 11:00am and the line wasn't bad at all. We waiting in line inside for about 15 minutes. I highly recommend everything we ordered - mountaintop sandwich, peach cobbler, and Mac and cheese. Mac and cheese is my favorite and Mad Jacks hands down has the best Mac and cheese I've ever had! read more

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

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If I could give this place six stars I would. The best god darn BBQ I have ever had. We arrived about 9:30am and their were about 10 people in front of us. We parked right out front but there is parking all over the town and it's free. Good thing we came early it was 10:30am and their was over 100 people in line. I can see why they say I survived the line at Mad Jack's. Ha Ha !!! While everyone was waiting in line owner James Jackson AKA Mad Jack walked around greeting and thanking everyone for coming. Everyone in line waited patiently and the place opened up at 11am on the dot! The line moved pretty fast for us but maybe we just got lucky. They have a good operating procedure from beginning to end. They were very helpful when ordering. We tried almost everything except the Dinosaur Beef Ribs. Next time...... Everything was delicious, especially the brisket. It just melted in your mouth. So good you don't need any BBQ sauce. I did sample their 2 sauces. One had a mustard taste but the other was my favorite. Very Sweet. There dining area is midsize but they are building a large edition on the side. There is nothing I would change about this experience. When I'm back in NM I will definitely make another stop here. The wait in line is worth i read more

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I understand why there is a wait. Everything on the menu is elevated to the next level. The experience of seeing Mad Jack himself chop up brisket right in front of you and being able to see the atmosphere that is created by the people and good barbecue. I have tried the chopped brisket sandwich as well as the smoked turkey. I am a dessert guy so I tried both a blackberry peach cobbler and a chocolate chip cookie. Also the Mac and cheese. Everything is great. One of the best barbecue places I have been to and definitely competes with being one of the great food destinations of New Mexico like Sparkys and Chopes. read more

Ok. There is a reason the line is 2 hours every time they are open, and they have 5 stars. This place is the REAL DEAL. We had the Pork Ribs, Brisket, Burnt Ends, Green Chili Stew, sour cream potato salad, pinto beans, and jalapeño cheese sausage. Every last bit of it was amazing. Oh and they have sweet tea. Do it. Stand in line. Wait. Buy more than you can eat. Your belly will thank me. Mad Jack- keep it mad. Because it was MAD good. read more

Wow! We got in the line around10:15 and ordered at 11:35. Worth the wait! We had a lot of food! Brisket, Mac n Cheese, baked potatoes. Everything was delicious! Everything was fresh, hit and yummy! Must try!! Worth every minute waiting in line! read more

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Delicious bbq and very friendly staff! This was my favorite meal during our long weekend trip.

I feel like I shouldn't even review this place. EVERYTHING about it was phenomenal. It was an experience you just need to try. Don't think, just go. And don't forget the cornbread. read more

Staff was incredible and the food was even more so. Chopped brisket is the way to go. Sour cream potato salad was a great side. Cobbler was a great way to end the meal. Totally stumbled upon this place passing through and couldn't be more pleased with the experience read more

I have a strong position against waiting in long lines for food that is easily accessible, however this place proved me wrong. WHY? Because the brisket is the best, EVER and can't be found anywhere else. As someone who lives in central Texas with access to multiple great BBQ options, I was taken by surprise. Our order consisted of sliced brisket, sausage (really good!), and the sandwiches Mountaintop, and Twisted Brisket. The sandwiches received high praises because it's tough to go wrong when the brisket used is seasoned so well. The owner puts such pride and authenticity in their food that he even makes the drive back to Luling, TX (9.5 hours away) every few weeks to buy the oak for his pits. The staff were friendly as well and the owner cutting up the brisket to perfection is a nice add. Also, they usually sell out by 3-3:30 so don't wait too long in the day to make a stop. read more

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

Best bbq you will ever have, the owner comes out and greets the customers waiting in line. The service, food and atmosphere are perfect. Sliced brisket and burnt ends are a must, however the beef ribs are amazing. Go early because they will run out!! Worth the 1:45 minute wait in line. read more

Brisket was incredible!!!. Just get brisket for SURE. Pork ribs were very good. Turkey was juicy and flavorful. Mac n cheese was excellent. Sour cream Pot salad was ok but not my fav. Staff were incredible and helpful and fun. Tip.... get there before they open bc there WILL be a line. Id suggest getting there by 1030 at the latest. read more

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Stopped in for the first time. The line is always so long that we never stopped. The food was 10/10. We had a beef rib, turkey and green chili sausage. Their pinto beans were next level. read more

Lemme tell y'all this place is where it's at. One of the most flavorful briskets I've ever had & that Dino Rib-- you'll drool just smelling it from the outside. DELICIOUS. Their food really is worth the long wait. You can also avoid the wait by going on off days/time I heard, but if you go during opening, there will already be a hella long line. So pack your patience! The service was very friendly & Mad Jack is hilarious! read more

This BBQ is the real deal. As a native Central Texan, I can confidently attest that Mad Jack's is a hidden gem that is on par with BBQ joints from Lockhart and Austin. We made the detour here while visiting White Sands, and it was totally worth it. Luckily we didn't have to wait in line too long. The brisket was tender and moist. Service was great. We also enjoyed the pulled pork, smoked sausage in addition to a side of potato salad and mac and cheese. Go check this place out for a real taste of Texas! read more

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

We returned to Cloudcroft and had to come back to Mad Jack's. It did not disappoint and was fantastic! A good brisket needs no sauce, but my wife tried theirs and her reaction had me give it a try. That sauce is great, so if you like sauce or not, they have you covered. I like no sauce bbq and they make it just right. Real talent on display. I need to go to Cloudcroft more often. Keep up the good work, Mad Jack's!! read more

So this place is obviously a staple of the Alamogordo/Cloudcroft area. There's always a line out the door before opening, & a decent sized line steadily throughout the day. The owners are phenomenal & so are all the staff working. They have brisket, pork, turkey, Mac & cheese, loaded potatoes, potato salad, etc. You can get sandwiches or meat by the pound. Everything is well priced, great quality, filling. While going down the line, the butchers will often give you samples of meat on your tray for free. They know you've been waiting awhile & are most likely hangry - great customer service on their part. Plenty of seating indoors & outdoors. Pet friendly. Military friendly. I ordered the twisted brisket & Mac daddy frito pie - phenomenal. Had plenty of leftovers. Check this place out. The wait is well worth it! read more

Mad Jack's Mountaintop Barbecue - Mac Daddy Frito Pie - Barbeque Near Me - Cloudcroft, New Mexico

My husband and I finally made it to Mad Jack's and are sooo glad we did! In the past, we didn't want to wait in line - but today we broke down. This is the best bbq we've ever had - and we've had lots of bbq!! Especially Texas bbq. Our brisket was tender, juicy, and flavorful - potato salad, coleslaw, and pinto beans were spot on. The owner was super friendly and personable - and so was his entire staff. How many restaurant owners come out and greet/visit with all the customers - then head back inside to chop and slice brisket?? The whole restaurant had a super cool vibe and smelled amazing while we were waiting in line. We will for sure be back!! Oh - and next time we'll also order the cornbread and cobbler because they both looked amazing! read more

TLDR--Good food, takes too long! We have a cabin in Ruidoso and decided to visit Cloudcroft on a Friday. We had no desire to wait in line for bbq because we live in north Texas, and we have so many amazing places to eat bbq...Hutchins, flatrock, Ernest B's, Rudy's, etc! These places are incredible, and I can get delicious bbq and sides without a long wait. As we were leaving cloudcroft around 1:30, the line was at the front of the door, so we decided to give it a try. It still took us 45 minutes from the front of the door. They still had brisket, but most meats and sides were not available. We had the chopped brisket, potato salad, cole slaw, and peach cobbler. They were all incredible, but not worth the 45 minute wait. They need to look at a more efficient operation, aka Rudy's bbq. They are so kind and friendly (think chic-fil-a), but take way too long (think dmv)! Btw, some items were not even available when the doors opened. For example, they didn't have cornbread or sausage when the doors opened. If you live in New Mexico and this is your only option, wait in line. read more

Came in from San Jose,Ca. And staying in La Luz. We took a trip today to Cloudcroft and we're told we had to eat at Mad Jack's. The place wasn't open and there was already a pretty long line (always a good sign). Before opening The owner made the rounds, struck up conversations and thanked folks for stopping by. Let me tell you everything was great!!!! The Mac and Cheese, sour cream potato salad, the sausage. The brisket was off the charts and so was the peach/blueberry cobbler. Everyone was wonderful and the food was amazing. Definitely a highlight of our trip! Thanks everyone! read more

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

Being from Texas I'm always a little leery when it comes to bbq outside the State. Even still, I was pretty hungry after spending the morning exploring both ends of the nearby Mexican Canyon Trestle and pulled into Mad Jack's ready to give it a go. Though they were sold out of some menu items, I was greeted by super friendly staff who served up a solid chopped brisket sandwich and suggested I try one of their green chile cheddar smoked sausage links. Both were great, but that sausage link was something special. Great snap on the casing, great flavor all the way through. If you love bbq, you're in Cloudcroft, and they're open, you should certainly give Mad Jack's a try. read more

Mad Jack's Mountaintop Barbecue - Chopped brisket sandwich alongside one green chile cheddar smoked sausage link. - Barbeque Near Me - Cloudcroft, New Mexico

The food was excellent. Staff was friendly and the owner/ pitmaster made a point of passing by each table and checking on everyone. We made it into the line at 11:20 and it was already a fairly long line. By the time we made it in at noon they were already would out of the Dino ribs and sliced brisket. Other than that I really enjoyed this place. read more

Been going here for 7 years. It's worth a 7 hour round trip and the two hour wait in line.

I was told that Mad Jacks is the best bbq around the Alamogordo area, so we decided to stop in. The sandwich has a fitting name for this area of the southwest, Chili the kid. Chopped mouthwatering Texas brisket with NM hatch green chili sauce. So amazing and totally worth the drive. My family was very happy. Next time we will come earlier in the day since they were sold out of most of their meats by the time we got there (which is a sign of a great bbq joint IMO, no leftovers!). We will definitely be back. read more

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No words for this. Truly the best BBQ we've ever had with the best service. The meat drips- literally. If you're not from here- you will need to wait in line about 90 mins before it opens if you want to get some before it sells out. This is a one of a kind place- worth the wait!!! read more

We come to cloudcroft every year and we never miss an opportunity to enjoy Mad Jacks. The BBQ beats even what Texas has to offer and the wait is so worth it. You know what they say about good things. The mountains and atmosphere make me never want to leave! read more

So finally got to eat at Mad Jack's and I thought it was just alright. It for sure is the best BBQ in this area, but not the best BBQ I've ever had in my life. We waited over an hour before we got our food and we arrived early. The line does move super slow. The workers are super friendly and make the environment super fun. The owner truly loves what he does and puts his all into his work. I unfortunately found a white hair in my brisket sandwich. As I was chewing, I felt something in my mouth that was't brisket. Out I pulled this white hair...I was not too happy...But I also did not want to complain because I didn't wanna be a pain in the glutes... Anyway, the food was alright. Is it worth the 1 hour wait after an hour drive and arriving early?...ehhhh...Not for me personally. If I lived in Cloud Croft, I wouldn't mind as much. With that said, if you are visiting the area, craving BBQ, and have time to kill, then check this place out. read more

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Food is outstanding and the service is great. Love the ambiance even had a live singer which helps ease the 3 got wait. Best bet get their at least 2 hours before they open. read more

Mad Jack's Mountaintop Barbecue - The line at as they opened the doors at 1100. - Barbeque Near Me - Cloudcroft, New Mexico

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Yummy!!! I'm originally from Texas so I know good BBQ and this is amazing! We got there right at opening and there was already a line - on a Thursday! Apparently they also do call in orders so they were out of the Dino ribs when we got up there but the brisket and sausage were fantastic! So were the cole slaw and mustard potato salad. You'll love the line as you get your food! They are generous with the meet portions and will often give you tastes as you select which portion of meat you want! Mmm! Did I mention they have root beer and Dr Pepper on draft? That's real Texas for y'all! They also have classics like Big Red in bottles as well as regular fountain drinks and sweet tea. Don't forget the cobbler! They have amazing cobbler! read more

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8 locals told me this was best BBQ in the county. They were CORRECT! Very legit Texas BBQ. Atmosphere is fun and they are very personable. Little wait, but everyone said so. Well worth it. Only BBQ in Otero County. Family friendly with cool vibe read more

This place has the meats!!! The line is insane, apparently everyone wants to eat here, and for good reason. We had the dino ribs (yum, but a bit too much fat), the loaded baked potato (loaded with brisket, which is amazing... The potato was a bit undercooked), corn bread (the best!!!), Beans and come slaw (very good). The brisket was the clear winner, I think. Note, it's cold inside!!!! Like really really cold! We came from a hike nearby and could not warm up, I think we sat on the heater for a while at one point. read more

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Just saw that Yelp ranked Mad Jack's as the 22nd best BBQ place in America. I have to strongly disagree. This is true central Texas style barbecue. In truth it is better than any barbecue place in Texas. Excellent quality of meats slow smoked over Texas post oak. The only negative is that Mad Jack's is in a low population area and has to depend upon tourists for their business. Everyone needs to eat here at least once. I am originally from NW Arkansas and I have never heard of Wrights Barbecue, the number one rated bbq joint. Yelp needs to seriously relook their ratings. read more

MJ's smokes meat the night before and when they're out, they're out! That's how you know they are legit. This is Texas-style BBQ so the emphasis is on cow, and there's no collard greens. I got: 1/2 lb chopped brisket, 1/2 lb pulled pork, and 1/3lb pork belly (on special!) The pork belly was my favorite, it came in little nuggets that were perfectly crisped and sauced. The brisket and pulled pork were also excellent. There are two house made sauces and neither are too sweet. Mad Jack himself was cutting up the meat. He's a fun and gregarious guy and eager to chat! I also love this location, it's up on the hills so it's much cooler than nearby areas like White Sands. Only thing that would make MJ's better: BEER. It's currently dry. read more

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

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Just wanted to start off by saying, the food is absolutely worth the wait. I'm from Vegas and the lines are always outrageous when it comes to restaurants, but this place is definitely worth it. There are signs everywhere about how it is possible that food runs out especially when it's later in the day, so the people complaining clearly can't read. Although the line may be annoying, the staff is very friendly and very audible when certain items run out. It's also understandable why it takes so long if you've ever worked F&B. The staff let us try some samples before purchasing and the small talk was nice/funny. Although there aren't many seats, the place is very cozy and has a warm vibe. Definitely planning to come here again! read more

We waited in line for about an hour and 15 minutes. It was well worth the wait!! The food and people are absolutely amazing and so very friendly. The only way it can disappoint you is when they tell you they are out of an item all together. When it runs out it's done. read more

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First time trying this place and the reviews are correct this place is truly the best. We came thru in April 2024 on a Friday afternoon. We were worried we would be too late since many reviews warn of food running out. We were In line by 11:40 there was maybe 7 people in line outside and probably around 15-20 people in line inside. We Ordered by 12:24- 12:26 Seated with our food by 12:37pm The only thing that was sold out before we could order was the pulled pork. Which sold out by 11:19 that day. Everything that we tried was delicious and I believe even things we didn't try would have been delicious. We had a decent amount of leftovers because the food is so rich. The brisket was absolutely buttery and tasted perfect in every way. I wish I could go back and get more. Our next stop on our roadtrip was Carlsbad and the food options in Carlsbad are very limited. I would've saved more for leftovers if I knew. read more

Let's start with the staff. They make you feel at home, they help with any/all questions, and they are interested in each and every customer that walks through their door. The friendliest restaurant we've been to in a long time. Next, the absolute best barbecue around. We got a variety of most things on the menu. The brisket was a variety of lean and moist, so everyone was happy! Both the regular and green chile smoked sausage were huge hits. The pork ribs were delicious and the beef "dino ribs" were one of the best things any of us had ever eaten. The massive baked potato made 4 meals for my daughter. I'm personally a "sides" girl and usually like sides more than the main course. Many barbecue joints have good meat and mediocre sides with little flavor. Sometimes it feels like places only offer sides because they are expected to go along with barbecue, not because they are passionate about them. Not Mad Jack's! The cole slaw was flavorful, the pinto beans were awesome, the mac&cheese was rich and creamy, and the sour cream potato salad was INCREDIBLE!! The blueberry cobbler was the best way to finish our magnificent spread. Even the pickles were extra tasty, not normal bulk pickles. Everything was top-notch and some of the best we've ever had. We are from Texas, where barbecue and hospitality reign supreme.... and Mad Jack's has mastered both! (Not to mention their sweet tea was good... and that's a MUST for my kiddos!!) Give them ALL the stars... we will definitely be back! read more

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The Dino rib is so good I crave it on a weekly basis. Definitely get their cornbread if they are serving it, and the cobblers are also delicious. Really can't go wrong with anything here. read more

Fantastic BBQ! The owner grew up in Lockhart TX and even swept the floors at Black's BBQ (my all time favorite) as a teenager. He buys his brisket from the same place Franklin's does and he even drives all the way back to Lockhart monthly to get his post oak wood. Nothing but the best. You gotta try the brisket! read more

Hands down the best barbecue I've ever had! Had the Mad Jack Sandwich: chopped brisket with jack cheese, grilled onions and the best grilled peppers ever (They said they were pickled)! The Mac and cheese was to die for and the peach cobbler.... Man oh man... Sooooo good. My husband had the brisket and green chile sandwich. He didn't even save me a bite! Under $40 for two huge sandwiches, 2 sides, 2 drinks and a dessert. Now, the negative. We showed up on Sunday at 2. Waited in line for a long time, and every 15 minutes or so they would add an item to the sold out list! Apparently they make the food fresh every morning (gasp), so when they are out, they are out. I got the last Mac and cheese AND the last cobbler. We have been wanting to try this place over a year, but everytime we go up to Cloudcroft the line is HUGE! It was so worth the wait! read more