I placed a pickup order with Mission BBQ; however, the experience I encountered when I arrived to collect my food was deeply disturbing and, in my opinion, undeniably rooted in racism. When I approached the pickup counter, there were approximately four or five customers ahead of me. I waited patiently for my turn. During that time, I observed a tall, husky gentleman with a blond receding hairline interacting with customers. He was warm, engaging, considerate, and approachable with everyone he assisted. Standing beside him was a younger employee, approximately 19 years old, with brunette hair hanging down to his eyebrows. As the line became shorter and there was only one person ahead of me, the younger employee repeatedly stared at me. At first, I attempted to be polite and welcoming -- I smiled at him and subtly gestured in case he was ready to assist me. However, it quickly became clear that the look he was giving me was not an ordinary glance. It was a look that communicated, "You do not belong here. Why are you here?" -- a look many Black people unfortunately recognize all too well when confronted with prejudice and hostility. The moment I acknowledged him, he rolled his eyes and walked away. I then waited for the taller employee to assist me instead. Yet the second I approached the counter, his demeanor completely changed. The friendliness, patience, and professionalism he had shown everyone else disappeared. His tone became dismissive, irritated, and impatient. After receiving my food, I was then met with another unfriendly expression from a customer whose face reflected visible disgust that I was even there. I do not care what color someone's skin is, what hairstyle they wear, what religion they practice, or what they choose to wear on their head. This is 2026 -- not 1930. Your company publicly prides itself on supporting first responders, firefighters, police officers, and medical personnel. Those individuals come from every race, culture, religion, and background imaginable. If an Arabic EMT wearing a hijab had walked into your establishment that evening, would your staff have treated them with the same level of discomfort and disgust? After tonight, I honestly believe the answer would be yes. What makes this even more disappointing is that I have visited this location before during daytime hours -- typically between 1 PM and 4 PM -- and have always experienced pleasant service from both staff and customers alike. Until tonight, I had never felt unwelcome at this establishment. No customer should ever be made to feel inferior, unwanted, or judged simply because of the color of their skin. What makes this even more upsetting is what Mission BBQ says it stands for. Your company proudly promotes "Proudly Serving Those Who Serve," honoring military members, police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and first responders. Those heroes come from every race, religion, culture, and background. America today is diverse, and the people serving and protecting this country reflect that diversity every single day. That is why the treatment I experienced tonight felt so wrong and hypocritical. The looks, the attitude, and the dismissive behavior I received made me feel unwelcome simply for being Black. That goes completely against the values your establishment claims to represent. Respect, patriotism, and service to others should apply to everyone -- not only the people your staff are comfortable with. read more

Came here for a monthly dinner group. It was my first time coming and visiting this Mission location. Though the food was good, service great and restaurant and restrooms very clean, I felt the portion size was really small for the amount I paid. A two meat platter, both the pulled pork and moist brisket were really good, but both portions were super small. The green beans with bacon were good and a reasonable size and the cornbread, albeit very tiny, was very good. I half wonder if the portions would have been larger if I got single meat platters instead of the two meat but I don't know for sure. The hot BBQ sauce was kickin' and the sweet tea super delicious. I'll definitely be back because I have this dinner group monthly and I probably will try a single meat platter the next time I come back to see if the portion size is larger. Otherwise everything was good and very enjoyable. I enjoy the food at Mission BBQ! read more

Definitely a great place to get a quick bite and delicious BBQ. I like the coleslaw because it doesn't have a ton of mayo on it. The meat is always tender. read more

Mission BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

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Not a great experience. BBQ is average to below, and having to stand up and sing the Star Spangled Banner once in a while was odd.

This place was busy on a Saturday evening but not overcrowded. I did not think I'd ever venture to this BBQ spot but I was happy to find out they offer salmon. All sides are a la carte so I opted for the collard greens and potato salad. The salmon came with a piece of cornbread. The table had condiments offering six bbq sauces. I tried four of six and they were unique and delicious. I think I liked the KC the most. The salmon was nicely grilled, potato salad had a nice flavor but not overpowering with old bay. The greens were tender. The service was friendly and the food plentiful. I will be back. read more

Mission BBQ - Grilled salmon Collard greens Potato salad Cornbread - Barbeque Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

Ordered 2 meat sampler usually good and no issues , I'm not sure if today I ordered when they were at the end of the current brisket but I only received 3 small slithers of brisket compared to the last few orders before mines. Everything else was good but for $25 I could've waited for some better pieces. read more

Today my taste buds had decided that they wanted to have mission BBQ. So I went and ordered a brisket sandwich, fries and baked beans. My reason for 3 stars is because I received a fat sandwich instead of brisket. The server cut fat from the whole brisket and added it to my sandwich. read more

If you're a patriot and love BBQ, look no further. Great meats and fantastic side's accompanied by best service possible and everything is so reasonably priced. You feel the love the second you enter the establishment. I love the daily noon recital of the Star Spangled Banner. Everything great about America under one roof. read more

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I tried this place few times. I always had good experience. The staff were always nice and friendly. The service was always fast and the restaurant was always clean. The staff clean the tables as soon as customers leave the place. The food is really tasty. I have squally order salmon with side salad. They have 6 different sauce to choose from on a table. It's a Great place for lunch with friends or coworkers. read more

Worst experience ever! However the service and quick response from staff more than made up for it!!! Service is always good and food is normally good but this time it actually made me feel sick. I went in last night (3/15/25) and got my food to go but the smokey mountain that I always get tasted rancid. The beans seemed to have the same taste as well but I'm not sure because the bad sauce taste was very bad. I could not even finish my food because unfortunately I put the sauce on it first because again I get it all the time. It was so bad that it made me feel nauseous . It's the next day and I still have a horrible lingering taste in my mouth and my stomach feels unsettled. read more

I have had mission BBQ many times before but this was the first time I have eaten inside. It is very military and veteran friendly with all the pins, patches and photos. It was incredible. As soon as you walk in, you are greeted by the employees loud and proud. After I made my order, food came rather quickly which is a good thing because I was very hungry. I ordered the 2 meat platter with Mac and cheese. My choices were the brisket and pulled chicken. Very tender and moist. Not dry. I normally don't like bread crumbs on my Mac and cheese. It can be overpowering at times but with the portion that they gave and the amount of bread crumbs on top, I enjoyed it very much. Corn bread is always on point. At the table you get all 6 sauces to use at your will and I tried all 6! My favorite is the Honey Heat but still can't go wrong with either one of them. read more

Mission BBQ - Menu - Barbeque Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

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With 6 choices of bbq sauce & a vinegar based sauce on the table to enjoy with your protein selection, it makes for a tasty meal. My favorite sauce with Sliced Brisket is the Bay-B-Que !! Bay-B-Que sauce is a respectful nod to a popular Maryland tradition of spices. Imma took our order & checked on us at our table with attentive service which added to a great experience. My dad is Army retired so I enjoy the acknowledgement of the Arm forces. Thank you Mission Bbq for a positive experience. read more

Was surprised that no one waved when we entered. Most Mission BBQ places always waved, not this location. We ordered our food, many employees were stared at us, it became very uncomfortable because we are deaf. I guess their parents didn't raised them right. Food were great but for the burger, they put cheese on it by mistake so they had to make another one. It came out cooked raw. On third attempt, it came out good. Clean place and the service was excellent. Train your employees to not stare folks, that's rude!! Some veterans are disabled, are you allowed them to stare?? Shame! read more

We have been coming to this location for our routine "Mission Mondays" for four years now. We have never been disappointed by the taste and quality of the food, the kitchen has always been tidy and the staff create relationships with their customers. In particular, Stacey and Belle go above and beyond- their quality of service is unrivaled and they are always walking around with smiles on their faces. We may visit Mission BBQ on Mondays (with our Mission Monday" shirt!) But Stacey and Belle make it feel like a Sunday family meal! read more

Mission BBQ - Always enjoy seeing Stacey and Belle! - Barbeque Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

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This location is a very good one, and it's easy to spot on Route 40 in Ellicott City. I got my usual to-go order tonight- lean brisket with a side of green beans. Foot was fresh and hot. I noticed that the brisket was more moist than the "lean" I get a other locations. Usually the lean is a little more well cooked, with some char on it, which I like in moderation. The beef was tender, so I'm not going to complain about that. But I'm thinking the cooks got it wrong and gave me the moist cut. The slices were also thicker than I usually get. One piece was more like a cube than a slice. But the flavor was there. My fav sauce is Smokey Mountain, so I have them give me a few containers. The green beans were hit and had bits of bacon as I like it. Came with a piece if cornbread which was on the smallish side, but I only eat a bite anyway ( dieter). Service was great tonight. So I would come back if in this, my former hood. Lol read more

Mission BBQ - Brisket (lean) was more like moist with green beans and cornbread. - Barbeque Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

Their prices are exorbitant. Food is ok but not great. Not at all a good value. I will not be returning

The ranch dressing and brownies are the best at this location! Our go-to restaurant every week. read more

Mission BBQ - Baked brownie. - Barbeque Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

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Great food and excellent customer service!! Stacey is the manager and made our first time extra special. She checked on us multiple times and brought coloring activity for my daughter. Not to mention the food is awesome. Highly recommend! read more

Mission BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

Definitely you get your monies worth! From the front counter - friendly and helpful - the food served hot and with a lot of flavor! We tried the XXL wings and they were amazing! read more

First time here and it was surprisingly delicious. Every time I would drive by this place I would be in the back of my head what the heck is mission bbq sounds nasty, lol well I was completely wrong. The food is good, and comes out hot (not piping but warm enough to still enjoy it) I like how they have the menu set up. It took me a while to pick because everything sounded so good. I ended up getting *Bay-B Que Ribs 5bones with an XXL combo 2 sides and drink. I got coleslaw and French fries * delicious * omg lol My bf also ended up getting what was suggested to him by a fellow customer coming in to pick up his food * Brisket sandwich (moist) with an XXL combo French fries and bake beans with brisket & banana pudding Simply amazing, and honestly I could've gotten a XL combo because they food is filling. They offered indoor seating and outdoor seating as well. They also follow safety procedures during this time. Try them out :) read more

Mission BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

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Had a bit of a hiccup. Ordered something to pickup the day before thanksgiving and turns out they had run out and never called me. However the manager was very sincere and remediated the issue. Very professional service and handling of a mistake. Keep up the good quality customer service read more

Decided date night needed a meat night. So we chose Mission BBQ in EC. A friend used to work for the owners and she loves this place. Kinda got a little Southern flare going on. read more

This is my absolute favorite place to eat. I usually get the baby-back ribs.. I like that some Of the sides are seasonal. The strawberry short cake was a bit extra sweet but still taste great. I love coming here with my son. read more

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Have an update -- had the salmon today -- it was great -- never had a bad meal here since it opened. read more

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Grab some delicious BBQ while supporting veterans. Mission BBQ has a plethora of meat options from brisket to sausage to ribs. There is a side that will satisfy everyone. My go to is the brisket and Mac and cheese. The banana pudding is seasonal that hits the sweet craving spot on all levels. Don't forget to purchase a plastic reusable cup when you order a drink. You get a discount on the drink if you bring your cup the next time you visit. I love their sweet tea. As we all know sweet tea is a southern thing so if you're craving some good sweet tea, look no further and head to Mission BBQ. Sign up for their birthday perk online. If you're a veteran you get dibs on rockstar parking. I love Mission BBQ and visit frequently with my reusable cup. read more

We stopped in today on our way to the beach. Parents were super satisfied, the kids did ok. They are picky with new things and there's not a Mission BBQ where we live so they hadn't had it before. The restrooms were both really clean and nice. The food came out quickly and all the staff we saw seems friendly. I got to speak with the operator and he was great. He was running the last station making sure everyone had what they needed. Only thing that I'd say wasn't great was the corn. Didn't have much taste. All else (chicken, pulled pork, fries, baked beans and Mac n cheese) was wonderful! The rocking chairs were also a hit with the kids! Hope to be back soon! read more

Mission BBQ - A stop at the rocking chairs again on the way out - Barbeque Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

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Great food and great service!! The staff is always smiling and attentive and makes me feel so welcome. Highly recommend!

First off, the entry to this Mission BBQ is very inviting. Rocking chairs line the stone porch area which extends over to the outdoor seating area with picnic tables and umbrellas. The layout of this Mission BBQ is a bit different from the others in the area but the design of this one is nice. Taking off one star due to straw drawer being completely empty, finding a small piece of aluminum in my brisket, one of the meats having something (either bone or cartilage in it). Kind of puts you off your food. Staff was friendly. We're used to staff coming to the tables and checking if we need anything additional. This location/ experience they did not. Overall decent experience. read more

Mission BBQ - Brisket and Cornbread - Barbeque Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

Our Harley Owners Group sponsored a motorcycle ride from Cockeysville to the Mission BBQ in Ellicott City. We enjoyed a leisurely ride thru the countryside to Ellicott City. We arrived, ordered our food, and found a place to enjoy our lunches. Just a little after 12 noon, the Manager announced that the audio/visual system was down. He asked if we would all stand and sing our National Anthem. It was even more moving than watching and listening to the National Anthem on their TVs. Mission BBQ honors all of our service people each day with a noon time celebration. It makes you proud to be an American. read more

This place is fantastic, it's starts off with an amazingly friendly staff. They do their very best of greeting everyone that walks in the door. Followed up by simple small talk. The. You get your food pretty fast, and it's fantastic. The meat is so good, and the sides are hot and fresh tasting. I've been here three times now, and haven't been disappointed yet. Will definitely make my way over here every chance I can when I'm this way. read more

Mission BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

I absolutely love this place. The food is great and my favorite is the moist brisket. They have a wide assortment of different sauces you can choose from to smother your BBQ in. I am partial to the Bay B Que sauce that has a nice hint of Old Bay in it. My most recent experience came yesterday in the aftermath of the tragic flooding tat devastated historic Main Street in Ellicott City. I was called to assist with the recovery efforts. Mission BBQ wet above the call of duty and not only provided food for the displaced residents but also for all the people assisting with the recovery. Its invaluable to have some food delivered to you when you can't leave during a 12 to 16 hour shift. Their service is what always separates them from the competition. There are few places that give back so much to the local communities. They also are heavily involved in the Wounded Warrior Project. If you have a chance visit his location or any other location. You will not be disappointed in the food or the quality of service. read more

Mission BBQ - Thank you to Mission Barbecue for donating meals to the residents of Ellicott City flood area. - Barbeque Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

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May I first say, I was instantly greeted with an enthusiastic voice on the phone to place my order! Jesse your personality and voice are amazing and instantly lifted my spirits! I ordered a turkey sandwich and cheesey baked potatoes which are seasonal. The potatoes are so good! They make you want to slap your self The turkey was moist and flavor filled and beautifully sliced! Shout to the chef! Definitely will go out of my way to this location! read more

Mission BBQ - Sliced turkey sandwich and cheese baked potatoes! - Barbeque Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

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Horrible service.... Counter person cannot pour beer, had to wait for an "Adult " to pour it.

Quickly stopped by here on a Saturday night before closing time to get my BBQ fix. straight forward menu of regular favorites in an inviting atmosphere. Went for the Three-Meat Sampler Combo ($16.39) - Baby Back Ribs, Pulled Chicken, Brisket, Mac n Cheese, Cornbread, and a fountain soda. Food surprisingly comes out within 10 minutes of ordering; a big plate of food sectioned off for each dish. The good - mac and cheese plus cornbread are both made very well, not too dry and the right texture. The okay - brisket is tender, pairing nicely with the sides. The not so great - ribs weren't fall off the bone tender, and the pulled chicken was salty. Sauces on the table ranged from sweet to tangy, though not many with a decent spice. As the place started closing down, the staff was eager to have us on our way. Okay spot for BBQ depending on what dish you get. read more

Mission BBQ - 3-meat combo - Barbeque Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

I avoided this place because of the politics but my parents wanted bbq and it seemed safe and clean. The bbq chicken and coleslaw were outstanding. The parents liked the ribs. I had to choose the sauce and that was new for me. I don't remember which one I picked but it was thin and tasted okay. Overall, I was pleased. read more

Delicious simple food, well prepared in a clean, happy, casual place. Great for a night when neither of us want to cook. Love the NC style pork bbq sandwich. Friendly staff, quick service. read more

Meh BBQ with even more meh sides. Who puts fresh tomatoes in collards? So many better options for BBQ. No need to bother with this one.

Customer service is always the best ! There are no long wait times for your food ! And the food is always delicious!

Mission BBQ is a great stop for quick BBQ. It's not up to the same standard as Black Hog in Frederick, but that's okay. Mission's staff are always happy to see me when I come in, the food comes out quickly, and the quality is consistent. For a quick meal, that's all I need. Any of the meat options are safe; although the turkey is a bit dry. I almost always opt for pork, throw on some sauce, and I'm a happy camper. Juiciness is more important than seasoning or sauce when getting something fast, and Mission makes sure the pork is cooked well. Be prepared to add a bit of flavor yourself--but it shouldn't be too hard. There are plenty of condiments and sauces for you to use! The food could be better, but it could also be a lot worse. It's great for family dining or for picking up a lot of food on the way home when you don't feel like cooking for the family. Mission BBQ also does a great job catering events! This isn't a great place to eat if you're on a diet or looking to count calories. So keep that in mind if you're reading this review and January is starting to roll around. read more

If you want meat, you get plenty of meat. Service is fast and the time we went, around 5pm, there were plenty of seats available. Their meat is hearty and healthy portion but my favorite is their mac'n cheese. I do hope they'll offer salmon in the sandwich section soon. read more