This is going to sound like a commercial because it was SO GOOD. The food 10/10. The hospitality 10/10. The atmosphere...not 10/10, but it comfortable and clean and once you eat this food, you'd be willing to eat it anywhere. We had a sampling of things: brisket, ribs, hot links, collard greens, mac and cheese, cheesy broccoli corn casserole, peach cobbler. Everything was incredible. The collards are BY FAR the best collards ever made. The brisket was perfection. Miss Kim will tell you how to make both in as much detail as you'd like. Please go--and leave a huge tip. These people are lovely, are making excellent food, and they are doing big things in the community--like feeding the unhoused on the daily. read more

Papa Jack's BBQ - YUM! - Barbeque Near Me - Waco, Texas

I highly recommend this place. The meat is so tender and full of flavor. We had the ribs and chicken with smoke cabbage, collard greens and sweet potato casserole. Everything was perfect. The people are super kind and helpful too. I will be back read more

Papa Jack's BBQ - Ribs, chicken, smoked cabbage abs collard greens. - Barbeque Near Me - Waco, Texas

Amazing brisket! Tender and juicy! It melts in your mouth! You don't need any sauce. My son said the best brisket he ever had! Ms. Kim is the best! We also ordered Friday special, Brisket Nacho! It is a bomb read more

Papa Jack's BBQ - Brisket Nacho, the Friday special! - Barbeque Near Me - Waco, Texas

The food is some of the best I've ever had, the service was amazing and they treat you pretty much like family. Beautiful restaurant.

Don't sleep on this place. We just happened on this mom and pop place. We ordered the two meat plate with two sides. One of side recommended was the smoked cabbage. It was unbelievable! The smoked meat was just right. I can't say enough about how hospitable this place is. Both the husband and wife work the kitchen and the daughter works the dining area. read more

Papa Jack's BBQ - Two meat plate with ribs, brisket, smoked cabbage, and smoked macaroni and cheese. - Barbeque Near Me - Waco, Texas

RUN do not walk to Papa Jacks BBQ. Everything was AMAZING. Brisket was UNREAL. My kids were practically fighting over it. Chicken was tender and delicious. Going to try the sides next time!!!! Can't wait!!! The service was so nice and friendly, even though we were getting to go. My husband said we have to go back this coming weekend. I can't wait!!!! read more

I agree with the other reviewers. I want to thank the wonderful owners and staff for their warm hospitality and making us feel like part of their family. Prices were great. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone. I can't stress enough that we have never had such a warm welcome in any restaurant. We were in Waco for two nights, and my husband was craving barbecue. We both had the two-meat plates. The smoked sausage and smoked chicken were delectable. My husband had the pork rib and sausage. It was delicious as well. The sides were also great. Our favorites were the pinto beans and potato salad. The barbecue sauce was great. It was on the side. It was spicy. I loved it and loved dipping my food into it. My husband who prefers no sauce liked the fact that it was on the side. The restaurant was small and cozy. So maybe get there sooner rather than later. It was obvious they take great pride in their food and want to make sure the customer is happy. We felt the love and have never been treated so warmly in a restaurant. Loved their pickles too. Also, they gave us a complimentary dessert because it was our 40th anniversary and our first time in the restaurant. We chose pecan pie. It was fabulous. If we didn't live in California, we'd be regulars. The owners could seriously teach a master class in hospitality and graciousness. read more

Was headed home from a day trip to Ft Worth. Stopped in after a google search. This popped up as. 5 star. Boy, let me tell you, the reviews are NOT wrong!!! Top 3 brisket I've eaten in my life. The beans were on the same level. Didn't have room for dessert, but the sweet sweet owner gave us some sweet potato cornbread to take home, and WOW!!! The service and welcoming spirit were on par or better than the food! I will without a doubt make a drive back to Waco just to eat here again!!! read more

Ever heard of smoked cabbage??? Me neither but it sure was good! This place knocked my socks clear off! The brisket was fall-apart tender, the smoked Mac and Cheese was dynamite, and the corn bread was better than my mama's!!! read more

Five stars doesn't begin to tell the story. The brisket is as good as I've had...and I live in Austin. Smoked cabbage?!! I don't even like cabbage and I ate every bit. Smoked Mac and cheese amazing. My husbands's ribs were falling off the bone. And this is the nicest, friendliest family owners you could imagine. Just go!! read more

If you want the best bbq in Texas, this is the place to go. Everyone is so friendly. If you are in Waco and are hungry, stop by. You won't regret it. read more

Papa Jack's BBQ - Brisket, links, smoked mac & cheese and potato salad - Barbeque Near Me - Waco, Texas

The food is amazing from the moment you walk In you are treated like family! Don't forget to pin where you are from on the map. The smoked cabbage is the most amazing cabbage I've ever had. Their meats are tender and perfectly cooked! read more

Best BBQ I have ever eaten, treat everyone like family. I suggest you go try it for yourself.

While visiting Waco we searched for a good bbq place and found Papa Jacks BBQ. They had over 300 5 star reviews on google so we decided to give them a try. At first, the place doesn't look like much. But everything changes as soon as you walk into this place. First I was not just greeted at the door, but welcomed as if they were expecting me. We were walked to our table as though we were the only ones in the place. Of course we were not. The staff were unbelievably welcoming and friendly! Five star for sure from that stand point. The owner (I assume it was the owner) even gave us free dessert and treated us like we were family. The food was pretty great! I ordered the ribs and brisket which was super good! We also ordered the Mac and cheese and baked beans and everything was just amazing! If you ever find yourself in Waco, TX you gotta give this place a try! You'll be glad you did! Cheers. read more

Drove from California for vacation and this was our first time in Texas. BBQ was on our list to try. We are so glad we stopped by. Customer service was amazing everyone was super friendly. We were treated like family.. Everything on our plate hands down BOMB!! Thank you!! read more

The most down home spot I've ever been to, we were welcomed in and invited to sit at this family run little bbq spot near our hotel. All the other places close super early but we felt so lucky to dine in here. That sauce and tender brisket meat were simply delicious, ribs had a nice meaty chew. Sides we tried were all scrumptious, especially them greens. Cabbage was very unique- even the Mac n cheese is smoked! We ate some pie with an ultra flaky crust and we were full to the brim! Leftovers for the next day and that smoky smell made us remember what a beautiful time we had at Papa Jacks. read more

Papa Jack's BBQ - Sign- so true - Barbeque Near Me - Waco, Texas

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So good! A small family run place with legit bbq and very friendly people. If you find yourself in Waco check this place out. You won't regret it. read more

We just finished eating dinner here and between the food and hospitality we couldn't have had a better experience. Unbelievably good homemade food, every item was delicious. What made it all even better was the owners/cook and waitress all made you feel like family. They chatted with us, we laughed, talked food, basketball and Texas life. Wish our vacation was longer so we could try the Sunday dinner. The young lady working there brought so many big smiles to my 5 year old, they even have a selection of free books for kids that my kid loved. Can't say enough good things about this place. read more

Papa Jack's BBQ - Sweet potato pit - Barbeque Near Me - Waco, Texas

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We literally just left Papa Jacks and had to make this review! There were 5 of us and we had nothing but praise for everything that was ordered. Their food, their service & kindness are 10 STARS!!! I felt like I had the BEST home cooked meal ever. If you haven't had Mama's smoked Mac N Cheese then your taste buds have never lived! Don't forget a side of the sweet potato cornbread!!!! read more

This is the kind of place that just makes you happy in every way. Stomach and soul! Great food - I tried the brisket, ribs, sausage, and chicken. Plus some sides! Oh man, everything was great, but I've got to say, I'm shocked how good the chicken was. I would've never tried it but for their suggestion. Thanks goodness they did. Speaking of them, the family running this place is just plain amazing. They were kind, welcoming, patient, generous, and more. They loved on my kids, and made my heart happy in a way that feels like it's been lost elsewhere. This place is run with real Texan spirit. My family and I will be back. read more

I say a heartfelt yes to all of the other great reviews about this amazing food, amazing customer service, amazing hospitality, amazing owners and amazing staff!! You can absolutely believe the best of all the reviews, because it is so true! We stopped in as we traveled through Waco for the night and we feel like we landed in a little paradise of soulfood heaven!!! It was all just that good and we nearly sampled the whole menu!!! The price was very reasonable and so worth it! This has got to be the best secret in TX! We will recommend this lovely little spot to our friends, family and everyone who is looking for an unforgettable soulfood experience that will leave them very satisfied! The owners were right there working hard with beautiful smiles, and the hostess/waitress, Shay, provided a great first impression and great customer service! They all treated us like family and we would have just loved to stay and come back for more visits but we had to keep moving after our amazing lunch! The smoked chicken and brisket were simply mouthwatering, amazing! The pork ribs were quite good, too, and very tender! The sausage was yummy, too! All of the sides were great! Our favorites were the sweet potatoes, pinto beans, smoked cabbage, collard greens, and bbq sauce. I would like bbq sauce a bit spicier which they may have also had available. The smoked mac and cheese was good, too, and provided a nice twist on the traditional mac and cheese. Of course, the potato salad was good, too. Heck, they get an A on everything!!! The establishment is small, cozy and very clean! The vibe was great and the music playing was very nice. We loved eating in! We really enjoyed that they took time to talk with us and showed great pride in their food! We could tell they were passionate and loved what they do! They create love on a plate!! We absolutely felt the love! We were here for it all and they did not disappoint! We appreciated the extra condiments such as pickles and onions that were provided comp, too. Cornbread was yummy, too. Lastly, the desserts...amazing!! They have a great selection of soulfood items and desserts for every taste!! This must be soulfood heaven cause we felt like we were touched by Angels! We will plan to make special trips back to Waco just to eat here again as often as we can! We hope to catch one of those special monthly Sunday dinner feasts!!! This was the best food we've had while traveling on our roadtrip through TX! May God bless them and their amazing family for sharing such love, and joy with the world!!! They deserve a cooking show or a spot on the big screen, for sure!! They are such interesting people with a great legacy and amazing history!! Black owned business shoutout!! Thank you so much for being our trip highlight! read more

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The food is great, the family is awesome. I'm going back next week Service is fast and the proportions are ample. It is a quaint small restaurant but full of character and friendly vibes. I love Gerald and Kim. Wonderful people and great to visit with. read more

The place is just small but brisket and other barbecue is delicious. Mama makes peach cobbler and sweet potato pie and other southern delights. This is a perfect example of a mom and pop Operation that delivers what you're craving. read more

Don't miss it! Don't let the small storefront mislead you! THIS FOOD IS AWESOME! Met the owner/cook Kim and stole some recipe ideas and shared a couple of my own. Everything was amazing. Best Mac and cheese I've ever tasted Wait staff was excellent and we enjoyed ourselves so much!!! read more

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Bbq was ok... nothing too exciting. Ambiance didn't apply as we ordered to go. Service was quick

Best BBQ in Texas! Stopped in for an early dinner and tried the smoked chicken, brisket, and peach ribs. Everything was so delicious including the sides and the family that runs Papa Jack's made it such a wonderful experience. read more

Absolutely the best! The collard greens are hands down the best I've had ever and anywhere. Truly an experience and truly satisfying to your soul. read more

The food is authentic, the customer service is excellent. They make you feel at home as soon as you walk in. The best bbq I have tried. You won't be disappointed. read more

This place was amazing. A total hole in the wall BbQ spot, but that's where the best BBQ is at! The service was quick, but we were the only ones in there when we entered. Highly recommend. read more

BEST BBQ EVER! We had ribs, brisket, smoked mac'n cheese, smoked cabbage, sweet potato casserole, potato salad, and key lime pie to finish it off. The owner, Miss Kim visited with us like we were in her home kitchen. Her daughter Brie was a so sweet. They are only open Thursday, Friday, Saturday and the first Sunday of the month. You need to try Papa Jacks. Don't let the store front detour you. You will be happy that you went! I'm going to stop by tomorrow and take my dad in CA ribs and brisket. Don't walk, run! read more

Papa Jack's BBQ - Potato salad, smoked mac'n cheese, ribs and brisket were perfectly smoked. - Barbeque Near Me - Waco, Texas

Yes! This was exactly what I was looking for! The brisket was beautifully smoked and the ribs were so delicious. Don't get me started on the smoked Mac and Cheese, it was perfection. What a great little bbq joint this is. I was so excited to eat that I forgot to take a picture of my plate. The owners made me feel welcome from the moment I walked in the door. I found my spot when I pass through Waco. Well done June Bug, well done. read more

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OUTSTANDING!! Food is fresh, tender, and full of flavor! The owners make you feel like you are apart of their family, and it's just a great atmosphere. We live in NC and hope we get to come back one day and eat at this delicious bbq joint read more

Papa Jack's BBQ - We give Papa Jacks 2 thumbs up! - Barbeque Near Me - Waco, Texas

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Great family restaurant! Very good food! We had brisket, chicken and ribs, all flavorful and tender. The Mac and cheese was awesome! The smoked cabbage was new to me, but very good. Very kind people! read more

Service made me feel at home. The chicken and BBQ sauce made me slap ma momma. Brisket was well seasoned and tender but a light dry. Wall art was powerful. Atmosphere was welcoming and clean. read more

This place is the BEST BBQ ever!! Meat is smoked beautifully and literally falls off the bone. BBQ sauce is nicely flavored not too sweet like most. Smoked Mac and cheese, OMG. And the kicker is the sweet potato corn bread, so moist and delicious. All the family were very nice and welcoming, I wish we could move this place to AZ ! read more

Everything is amazing -- from the food, people, hospitality and ambiance. The owners are some of the kindest souls you'll ever meet and that love and kindness is transferred over to the food! read more

We got to Papa Jack's about 15 minutes before they closed for the night. We were tired and hungry after a 10 hour days at a local trade show. The staff greeted us like we were out of town family, home for a reunion. Food was quickly ordered and brought to the table. It was delicious! Didn't need a knife to cut the brisket. Smoked Mac and cheese was something special. Meal ended with pecan pie. Between the great food and welcoming staff, we left energized and full. Can't wait to return. read more

Great people. Friendly and nice. Small and slow paced. Don't bother if strapped for time. The food is SUPER smoky. Really really smoky. Too much for me. Meats were tender (ribs, oxtail). Sides are solid. Worth a try if you love smoke... read more

The reviews here aren't lying. Best BBQ I've had. If you aren't from here it's worth the trip. The AC wasn't working when we came in the middle of the summer... and I'm still giving it 5 stars because it was THAT good. read more

I wish I could give them 10 stars. Amazing food and great people. We were treated so well; a place that is a part of the community. Can not recommend enough. read more

Papa Jack's BBQ - Papa Jack's - Barbeque Near Me - Waco, Texas

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