For my husband's birthday, he requested barbecue, and a colleague of his recommended Papa Bear's BBQ. We decided to try it, and it exceeded our expectations. We ordered the Papa Bear's Sampler, which offers an excellent variety of meats along with two sides. While it is described as serving two people (or one very hearty appetite), the portion size is extremely generous. It would take quite an appetite to finish it in one sitting. The meats were tender, flavorful, and perfectly prepared, and the sides were equally impressive--especially the potato salad. In fact, the sampler provided enough food for two full meals for my husband and me. I am particularly selective about potato salad, as I have always compared it to my grandmother's recipe, and few have come close. Papa Bear's BBQ is a rare exception. In addition to the outstanding food, the staff was welcoming and attentive, and the pricing was very reasonable. Overall, it was a wonderful experience, and we look forward to returning. read more

I had this place bookmarked and was heading back from the hardware store around dinner time one weekend, so I decided to stop by. The place wasn't crowded, but did have plenty of people inside either waiting for orders or eating at some of the handful of tables. I looked at the big menu display screens and then placed my order at the counter with the nice woman who works there. I had the brisket plate with chili and corn bread as my sides. The brisket (some fatty, some lean so I could try their idea of both) was cooked well and had a good smoke ring. The smoke flavor wasn't as strong as I prefer, but different people have different ideas and less is more when you're cooking for a crowd, so I respect that. Their barbecue sauce (the red one -- I don't put yellow sauce on brisket -- had a good flavor that complemented the brisket's flavor rather than overpowering it.) As for the sides, the chili was OK, but not something that I would order again. I like chili and was curious. Curiosity satisfied. The corn bread was moist and that middle-of-the-road between sweet and savory that is common in much of Texas (at least the parts I have visited). I like mine a little more sweet, but, like the brisket, I am a believer in getting the texture right first. Be aware if you are a fan of the sweet corn breads. read more

We stopped by Papa Bear's food truck for a quick dinner and we were pretty happy with everything. The three meat combo fed the two of us and we were both really full afterwards. You get a good portion of each meat. The pulled pork had lots of flavor and it was still very juicy. Not dry at all. I typically avoid pulled pork because I don't really like shredded meat but I kept going back for more. Sausage had decent flavor, not our favorite, but had a good snap to it. The brisket was tender and flavorful. Our favorite of the three. Amazing on its own and with the bbq sauces they offered. Their sauces were pretty good -- our favorite was the spicy bbq. They had a classic bbq, spicy bbq and a Texas gold which was mustard forward. We liked all three. The sides were fine -- beans were salty in my opinion. Potato salad was good but we didn't like the huge chunks of potatoes.. and Mac had a good cheese sauce. We will consider getting more meat next time and try different sides. read more

Papa Bears Barbeque - Three meat combo - Food Trucks Near Me - Apache Junction, Arizona

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1/17/25 Sorry for the delayed post there was no Verizon service in AJ the day of our visit. Back after nearly a year from our last visit and a name change? Parking 5/5 No problem finding a place to park in their postage stamp sized and often full parking lot. First observation approaching the restaurant and getting out of our vehicle is what appears to be a nice new restaurant signage "Texas BBQ". Atmosphere 5/5 Very small and simple dining area with limited tables which are challenging to score during lunch and dinner rush hours. It is clean and organized with order staff delivery which is nice. Food 5/5 The Bread & Butter attraction for the restaurant is their signature smoked Brisket and sausage. Today were ordered the sausage sandwich and the brisket sandwich both with coleslaw and my brisket basket side also included the smoked Mac & cheese. My wife like her sausage sandwich but agreed she is sticking with the brisket next visit. I enjoyed the brisket however the smoked Mac & Cheese was disappointing. It wasn't anything like my last visit lacking any notes of smoke and the cheese was thick and clumpy which over-powered the pallet.,aside from lacking smoke flavor it appeared to be an aging batch. My next visit I'll opt for the backed beans. Service 5/5 Rating is based on a counter ordered staff delivered meal to table. Staff is always helpful and friendly. To be fair, today wasn't the OMGosh Becky experience we enjoyed during our last visit. To balance my personal disappointment was my observation of the huge rush of faithful customers which makes statement of satisfaction. You be the judge. Brisket or not to Brisket my Fiends-SYOY. Art read more

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Really good food. We got the sampler and upgraded the sides to pints. The mac and cheese is really good. The potato salad was okay. The fries are yummy. All the meats were delicious. The staff is really nice. Hope they build another location closer to Phoenix. read more

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Small place, at one end there is counter seating and 4 tables. Other end has all counter seating. Menu is on the wall as you walk in the door (picture not great). Right away we noticed several items were sold out (by 6:30pm) pulled pork, smoked turkey, hot sausage links and corn bread. That's the reason for 4 stars. Food had a nice smoked flavor, not too heavy and Brisket was tender. You order at the counter and then they call you up. Banana pudding was average not many bananas. Open 11am to 8pm Tuesday thru Saturday closed Sunday and Monday. Might return only go earlier for a better selection. read more

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YUM! Amazing food and quick service. We were also able to purchase bee pollen granules. Definitely worth the stop! read more

Papa Bears Barbeque - Bee Pollen Granules - Food Trucks Near Me - Apache Junction, Arizona

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Papa Bears Texas BBQ serves delicious & moist bbq meats with deep smoked flavours. Meats are slow cooked to Texas style. Side are house made and also excellent. We had the Pappa Bears Samples (4 meats and 3 sides). The pull pork and brisket are the stand outs. For the sides, I loved the mac and cheese (so creamy and cheesy). The sampler feed 3 people comfortably. We also ordered a side of the fully loaded fries and it was good but hard to take from the plate when the cheese cools off and sticks together. Service was friendly and helpful. Place your order at the counter and give them your name if you wish to eat in. The eat in area is clean and contemporary and seats for about 22 people. I noticed lots of take outs. read more

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Let me start off by saying I am bias. Lol I have lived in Tennessee previously and the BBQ there can't really compete with anything here in AZ. I also have two BBQ places here that almost match up and they are my go to spots. I wanted to put that out there so you understand my frame of mind for this BBQ joint. I recently moved to south AJ/Eastmark area so I was excited to try something new close by my new home. I saw a IG reel about this place so I hopped in my car and took a little drive up to it. The ambiance: When you first come up to this place, it is right off a main road. Minimal parking and looks to be a quaint mom and pop shop (which are my favorite.) When I walked in, I noticed how small it was. Do not plan on coming here with a large group unless you're taking it to go! I took pics of how it is laid out. The decor was fitting for a BBQ place.. the music was like 90s rock which was kinda interesting. They had two bathrooms, 2 tables seating 4 each, 2 tables for 2, and two "bar tops" for lack of a better term. Everything appears new and very clean. The service: The staff here is phenomenal. They are kind, attentive and helpful when it comes to helping you choose what to get. They always seemed busy, cleaning, organizing and they genuinely loved their jobs. The food: Even though I came solo, I decided to take my food to go. I ordered the lean brisket place with mac and cheese and potato salad. It also comes with some white bread which I appreciated as that's what TN served with their BBQ (I assume TX BBQ too) The BBQ sauce was flavorful, not spicy or sweet just BBQ. I am not sure if they have more BBQ flavor offerings - I will have to ask next time. The BBQ tasted good and the meat as well. They pepper their brisket so I had to get used to that. Next time I'm going to go half lean half fatty or all fatty to see if I like it better. I gave the meat & sauce a 7.5 out of 10. I will also probably get slaw next time as I forgot to have them add it on my order! The potato salad was delicious. I gave that a 8 out of 10. The mac and cheese was also very tasty I give that about a 8.5 out of 10. Overall, if you're looking for good BBQ close by, don't hesitate to swing by and give Papa Bears a try. I usually have some wishlist ideas for the owners of establishments after I try them out and rate them but this is my first time in a long time where I didn't see any issues what so ever. Owners/management are doing a great job! read more

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Worth the drive! I've been to dozens of BBQ places in the metro, this is near the top of the list across the board. The building is a bit of a hole in the wall in the middle of nowhere...actually, it's across the street from the middle of nowhere. You can make a side quest in the area for some nice hiking before or after. Google that shit, there are some trails out there almost as gorgeous as my wife. Three kinds of sausage links, Smoked, Hot Link, and Jalapeño Cheddar. All good and if you're just getting one, go for Jalapeño. I'd pass on the beans next time but the slaw and cornbread were good. The Mac & Cheese was fantastic! The Baby Back Ribs were a little undercooked but super flavorful. Brisket (mix of moist and lean) was outstanding. Pulled Pork was very good. The highlight and surprise was the Smoked Turkey. Perhaps the best I've ever had, flavorful and as juicy as could be. They feature two very good BBQ sauces, a sweet tomato-based sauce and a mustard based Gold sauce. Gold on the turkey was *Chef's Kiss* and sweet red on Baby Backs was very nice. I like the pork and brisket like I like my wife - totally naked. They sell their rub and red sauce. I bought a bottle of rub to use on my next cook at home. Counter service only and nice people. Beware there's not much seating, so come and wait, come early, or come late. They don't have any chicken so don't be a chicken, make a trip to Apache Junction for some great BBQ. And don't bother telling them I sent you, I don't get paid for this. read more

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I've been wanting to come here for a while now. Another yelpers pictures got it for me. I came by and got the brisket plate which comes with 2 sides, I chose Mac n cheese and coleslaw. I also got a loaded fries with brisket and jalapeños. Way more food than I could eat! The woman taking the order was really nice, and the people coming in for their food were all really nice! I must've ate my brisket in the wrong order cause it was torture for me lol. I started with the extremely moist to dry, I should have done it the other way around. I sadly didn't get to eat much of my loaded fries because I was super full!! But I did take them home to go. Their brisket is really good here, no sauce needed! I'll definitely be coming back for the grizzly sandwich I think it was called... read more

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Excellent Texas BBQ. Stopped for a late lunch at about 2:00 on a Friday and the small dining area was half full. We both had the Turkey Sandwich which was piled high with four thick slabs of tender fall-apart turkey breast on a squishy brioche bun. I opted for the table-side BBQ sauce rather than the white horseradish sauce it usually comes with. The beans with chilis and just-like-Mom-made potato salad side dishes were very tasty. We ordered at the counter and the meals came in 5 or 10 minutes. Not a lot of atmosphere in the limited seating area that consists of 4 sit down tables and a short hightop counter.There may be outdoor seating (?) but there weren't any tables on the covered porch. Fairly nondescript from the busy street with limited parking, so keep your eyes open when you try it. read more

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Wonderful dinner. The beans are an old school slow cooked pinto beans, just like grandpa used to make. The food was delicious all around. Can't wait to come back and try more. read more

What a nice surprise to see Papa Bears at the Cubs spring training game! Love their food.

Our first visit here. The food was incredible!! The restaurant was clean and bright. The food came out very fast and the staff were very nice. Highly recommend read more

WHAT A GREAT MEAL.... our 1st visit to Texas BBQ (aka: Papa Bears BBQ) Nice indoor seating, friendly staff, and excellent Sausage and Brisket Plates. We enjoyed the taste and will be back often. Thanks! read more

Papa Bears Barbeque - Food Trucks Near Me - Apache Junction, Arizona

BBQ is much debated as to what's best---brisket, ribs, pulled pork//beef, etc and sauce/no sauce. This is my take on our order a couple days ago for eat in. My wife ordered the pulled pork plate and chose potato salad and coleslaw as her sides. I ordered the half rack of ribs that do not come with a side. The pulled pork came pretty much as you would expect without any sauce (a vinegar sauce and mustard sauce were available at the table.). The portion was impressive. Both salads were quite tasteless. My ribs were cooked to near perfection but the dry rub used was so salty it overwhelmed any meat flavor there might have been. The ribs were very meaty and would have been great with less salt. I ate two of the five ribs delivered and took the rest home. Two days later, I loaded the ribs with Sweet Baby Ray's and could not get rid of the salt We won't be back. read more

Food is excellent. If I'm in the area I make it a point to stop to pick up brisket and sausage.

This business started as a Texas BBQ food truck, but recently expanded to add this brick-and-mortar location, which offered fast, friendly service and a small dining area during my dine-in late lunch visit. My beef brisket plate ($16.95) was brought to my table just a few minutes after I ordered at the counter. It was generously sized with meat, two sides, onions, pickles and two slices of white bread. Two sauces were available at the tables (regular and Texas mustard), but I also heard they have spicy BBQ sauce available upon request. The brisket was somewhat greasy, the pinto beans were pretty basic, and the bread was somewhat stale. I did, however, like the slaw and the pickles. I found the dining area to be clean and basic with background music coming from the kitchen. They also offered a few bottled beers. Overall, A-OK. read more

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Yelpers attention please!! 1st time to Papa Bears Barbecue. Millie tried to loaded potato with brisket, I had the brisket plate with 2 sides Cole slaw and steak fries. Loaded potato could easy feed 2!! Brisket plate was so tender and seasoned to taste so great and mouth watering. Yummy...... 4 tables and a counter to sit in and enjoy the great tasting food inside. Easy parking off Apache Trail. Great amount of food for the money. Cole slaw is mayo based and is delicious. Steak fries seasoned even to taste great. Add to you list of must try!! read more

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Great food, great service. The beef brisket plate is my favorite. The meat is cooked perfectly. Cozy dine in as well.

Excellent experience eating here, we came after work and the food and staff were great

First time. Had a brisket sandwich. Plenty of meat for sure but very very little taste. Not sure why but was very strange. BBQ sauces were nothing special also. Mac and cheese was good. Probably won't be back as there are in my opinion many better BBQ places in the east valley. But give it a try maybe I just got a bad piece of meat. Good luck read more

**Papa Bear's Texas Barbecue** 1200 W Apache Trail, Apache Junction, AZ 85120 I had the wonderful opportunity to visit Apache Junction to discuss a vacant space with a building owner, and guess what? I walked away with not one, but four exciting listings! On my way back to the office, my stomach started to rumble, so I decided to treat myself at Papa Bear's. I ordered their delicious brisket plate with fries and coleslaw, and let me tell you, the brisket was incredibly tender, moist, and absolutely mouthwatering! I couldn't resist asking the cashier for some spicy BBQ sauce. That spicy BBQ sauce is a delightful surprise! At first, it seems mild, but then it sneaks up on you with a fun little kick! I absolutely love this place and can't wait to return when I visit my new listings for videos and pictures. It's always a joy to discover such fantastic spots! read more

Friendly service. Clean restrooms. Which means clean kitchen! Large yummy portions. read more

My daughter and I found this hole in the wall place. We walked into serious bbq joint, men in cowboy hats, big trucks and gear. The brisket was perfectly moist and seasoned. She had the loaded fries ( best fries ever) and I had the brisket tacos. The customer service was awesome!!! Definitely recommend this restaurant. The cowboys always know ... read more

You can smell the delicious scents from this restaurant wafting through the air when you are in the area. I have been dying to try it because my nose can't ignore what's going on... I am glad to have stopped in! The parking lot is a little tight and had about 10 parking spots. It's at an incline which leads to a pretty busy street so if there is traffic it can be awkward to leave. There may have been different parking I didn't notice, but I am referring to the immediate parking in front of the building. It's a very cute place with a fair amount of seating for dining in. It was clean and welcoming upon entering. The staff were very friendly and we got our food super quick! We were still chatting with the person at the cash register when our food was ready for us! I ordered the brisket sandwich meal which is priced at $17. It was very good. The meat was a great portion on the sandwich. Flavor was great, it didn't even need bbq sauce. I ordered coleslaw for the side and I enjoyed it! I can be picky when it comes to the flavor of coleslaw and this one was not bad. A little sweet but still tasty. It appears they do different flavored bbq sauces (I think it said monthly). We both asked for a sample of this month's pineapple bbq. It didn't end up arriving, but I didn't follow up on it because the meat didn't really even need sauce. I definitely can see myself popping in for some smoked goodness again! It's awesome to have good bbq in the area. read more

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For a while, I've been meaning to try this location as I try to stick to a vegetarian diet. I figured I could always tag along with someone and enjoy some tasty sides if needed. The staff was super friendly to discuss the menu, make suggestions for us, and ensure a quality meal served quickly with a smile. Love the mom and pop feel of this location, and the little touches to the dining area. It felt very comfortable and loved the potato salad & coleslaw! read more

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Went to AZ for spring training and ended up finding this gem! I'm from California and we have some pretty good bbq spots. This place has some damn good bbq/food!! I wish I was closer because I would visit once a week. The people are great as well. This place is going to have great success. It looks like they just moved into a building. read more

Papa Bears Barbeque - Brisket, pulled pork, corn, steak fries - Food Trucks Near Me - Apache Junction, Arizona

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The food was amazing and the service was absolutely great, nice people and good communication!

Their beef brusquit is the best I've ever had so soft and tender and enough for 2 or 3 meals I love this food so much and so good

Best BBQ I've had in a while. Great tastes n textures. You can tell how much effort n love they put into their food. I ordered a triple combo plate that came with a couple of sides. My boys ordered brisket n pulled pork. Everything was absolutely delicious and the customer service was on point! read more

I decided to stop here for lunch on a whim, no joking this is hand's down the BEST BBQ I have ever had in Arizona. This brisket has started wars, its sooooo good! Highly recommend this place. The atmosphere and service are fantastic as well. It feels like a cozy little rest stop BBQ spot. I'm a blue collar worker and this hit the spot during my busy day between jobs, I will definitely be making the trip to Gold Canyon just for this place on the regular. read more

Found this place by a chance driving on Apache Trail in AJ. Friendly, good food, good prices short and sweet menu making good food for the price. I had the baby back ribs, potatoes salad and corn on the cob the meat fell off the bone. I highly recommend it for a bbq place. Service was friendly, good, quick, hot food and when I asked for a lil bean sample they were kind to give me one. I noticed the plastic gloves got switched after the server clean the table next to me, I also saw the counter wasn't gross, or dirty, clean comfortable lil dinning area. I have to say I will return oooh Dave's bbq watch out Papa Bears is surpassing your service and quality of food. read more

2 words, people. Taco. Tuesday. Had the Brisket Tacos on Tuesday. Fantastic. Beautiful. Bedeviling. They were packed with beef and cheese and fried on a flattop like proper street tacos. You get 3 of these bad boys and a side for $15. I stuffed myself like a tick. Highly recommend. read more

Papa Bears Barbeque - Brisket tacos are fabulous - Food Trucks Near Me - Apache Junction, Arizona

Delicious barbecue! Enjoyed a wonderful lunch with our son while visiting the Phoenix area.

Found this place on Yelp when the husband was craving BBQ! It was so yummy. We shared the 2 meat plate and there was plenty for us both. Danielle our cashier was so outgoing abs welcoming. We will be be back for sure!! read more

Amazing food and great service. I highly recommend the cornbread. The ambiance is very chill and welcoming.

Great food, love the service the people very warming great food great food great food

1 Star goes to Service and 2 to Food lol. We waited for an hour for 2 meat plate and initially a pulled pork loaded fries but as the wait time went on the pulled pork got sold out forcing us to change to Brisket. To be honest tho the Brisket Loaded Fries was the better option in our opinion, seasoned great and no sauce needed for that item! The night we went they had an order call in (I'm guessing the day of) for 100lbs of meat and with little to no prep, they sold out of a lot of meat from the passing time of us waiting for our order. The place is right off the road and on the smaller size but nice interior. Seems very popular cause we saw lots of people in and out while we waited. I would go back for the Loaded Brisket Fries but called ahead to make sure they were ready. The Mac n Cheese is a great side, my wife and I really liked it! Beans remind me of Lehi days beans which are decent. A suggestion for the restaurant would be to take orders 24-48 hours in advance to purchase/prepare the meat for such an order leaving the normal days meat available for customers to pickup. read more