Simply the most authentic BBQ I've ever had. We stopped while traveling home from San Diego to Wisconsin. When we drove up we knew we hit the real deal. The hosts were so helpful and patient as we figured out what we would like. They made suggestions and and definitely steered us in the right direction, which is perfect for a ranch supply store. Loved the beans and my ribs were fantastic. I was so happy to have leftovers as a souvenir of this gem. Stop here and eat. read more

Watson's BBQ - Four ribs = 3 meals - Barbeque Near Me - Tucumcari, New Mexico

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Food was great. Best barbecue I tasted. The brisket was thinking and tender just the way I like it, and let's not forget the sides. Everything was great! read more

Come here!!! Best BBQ ever! I ordered the "Fritos pie" and it was amazing! My mom had the brisket and it was "melt-in-your-mouth" delicious... also has a super cute antique country store. Sells anything from clothes and jewelry to farm supplies! Definitely recommend to check it out! *don't forget to sign your name on the wall! read more

Watson's BBQ - Delicious menu! - Barbeque Near Me - Tucumcari, New Mexico

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Wow and this has great BBQ. I had the three meat plate, beans and slaw and my hubby had the ribs and brisket with Mac and cheese. Watson himself brought us a sample of his green chili apple cobbler too. Yummy! The shop run by his wife was fun to shop too:) We love supporting small businesses. Out back we're spotted some serious route 66 kitsch too! read more

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They are serving up a heaping helping of friendly service alongside their delicious BBQ. Go ahead and turn off the main road...it's worth it! read more

Had no idea what a broasted chicken was, well now I know. It's was succulent. This isn't your usual bbq place, we had to wait as my chicken was cooked after ordered, moist, tasty, skin was awesome. One of the top three onion rings I've ever had, crisp, not greasy and cooked all the way thru! My wife had the pulled pork sandwich and it was HUGE, and tasty. Realized after getting our meal the owner was in the front end, very friendly, saw him cooking our meal, oh and the stuffed jaleponos were delicious! read more

Watson's BBQ - Pulled pork sandwich and chicken breast and wings - Barbeque Near Me - Tucumcari, New Mexico

Great place to stop in for a quick but delicious bite and great hospitality. Part of a little country store!

I wasn't expecting much considering the place was in the middle of nowhere. But it's prob one of the best bbq ribs I had in a long, long time.. fall of the bone ribs and the bbq sauce was really tasty. The price was also very affordable: I haven't eaten meat in awhile so I was really happy with my meal. There's also a gift shop and the people there were very nice. Stop by if you're on the road and looking for a place to eat. read more

Amazing stop on our trip east from Albuquerque! Excellent bbq, friendly service, and very kid friendly. Indoor and outdoor seating. Highly recommend. We will be back. read more

My husband is one incredible Grill master. I hate to hurt his feelings buttttt... this place was the best bbq I've ever had. We came to town because "Cars" and wanted to eat. One thing we hadn't had in awhile is BBQ. Pulling up immediately we could smell the bbq. We walked in an hour before closing (felt so bad). The hospitality they had was incredible. We both ordered the Po' Boy. He made it 50/50, we also ordered a frito pie to share. We got 4 cookies, 2 bags of chips and 4 of the Route 66 sodas. Everything was delicious!!! I immediately texted my momma. She was drooling over the pictures and description. I'm so thankful we found y'all! We bought a few little items from the gift shop made by a couple in town. Thank you for the wonderful food, and hospitality. Anytime we come through we will be stopping because hot damn that's some good bbq! read more

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10/10. This place is AWESOME. Amazing food, really kind staff, friendly customers. Really fair pricing as well! We will be back the next time we're in town!!!! read more

Watson's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Tucumcari, New Mexico

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Absolutely amazing BBQ in a fun spot. Jimmy was so nice and accommodating. I was passing through on a road trip and it was already closed for the day on the first pass but made sure to get there in time on my way back. Everything I had was beyond delicious. I had the 3 meat combo with 2 sides and cobbler. I couldn't have been more satisfied. It is definitely worth a stop if you are passing through or spending the night in Tucumcari. read more

Good food. Unique atmosphere. Nice and fun people. Although is a few blocks off of Route 66 in Tucumcari, it's still very much a part of a Route 66 road trip. Try not to miss it. Here's a hint: try to time your visit for lunch or a "late lunch" They close around 4 and are not open for dinner. read more

Watson's BBQ - Great food and a sense of humor :) - Barbeque Near Me - Tucumcari, New Mexico

If you (for whatever odd reason) find yourself in Tucumcari, New Mexico on Route 66, I highly advise you stopping here. Jimmy and his wife have a legit barbecue operation in their ranch supply store. The lunch plate was 2 meats plus 2 sides for $11.95. 3 different meats (sausage, ribs and sliced and chopped brisket) came on my plate along with 2 sides (mac and cheese and pinto beans) PLUS a slice of homemade bread and a homemade sugar cookie. Jimmy also brought out samples of their apple and green chile cobbler. I've had barbecue in A LOT of places and this was top notch! The service was friendly and the restaurant was exceptionally clean. When we left I felt like we were part of the Watson family. read more

Watson's BBQ - 3 meat sampler...so good! - Barbeque Near Me - Tucumcari, New Mexico

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Delightful BBQ spot in the most random of places. While I was traveling on my way to Santa Fe spotted Watson's great reviews on Yelp. I was early so continued on with the thought of Watson's still stuck in my mind for another date. Made it back 5 days later at just the right time (yes I may have planned it that way). Watson's is located in a feed store loaded with southwestern and New Mexico knik-knaks. The owner came out and asked to show us the menu and how they do things. Very nice family. Very conversational and exceedingly welcoming. We ordered a rib plate (me) and a two meat plate with sausage and brisket (Kate). The Rib plate was really good! The ribs were tender and flavorful. The brisket was wet, had a decent flavor but wasn't very "smoky". The sausage was good as well. The sides we're pretty good although pretty standard. We also ordered a bowl of green chili stew which was decent as well. One it I'd recommend for sure is the green chili apple dessert. Very tasty. In our experience I will say this wasn't top of the line BBQ as so many yelpers have claimed it to be. It was good, mind you, but to compare it to Joe's of Kansas City or Blacks in Lockhart Texas isnt fair to those places. It's good but it isn't great. I wouldn't travel 260 miles for it like I did, but if you are driving near Tucumcari, I'd recommend stopping, saying hi, and getting some ribs. Customer service 5/5 Food 3.5/5 Price 4/5 Atmosphere 5/5 read more

Watson's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Tucumcari, New Mexico

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Brisket loaded baked potato. AMAZING! Stopped by on our way from TX to Albuquerque and this family knows how BBQ!! read more

Watson's BBQ - Brisket loaded baked potato. AMAZING! Stopped by on our way from TX to Albuquerque and this family knows how BBQ!! - Barbeque Near Me - Tucumcari, New Mexico

Tucked away on Lake Street, two blocks north of Route 66/business I-40, this place is a gem. Definitely NOT chain. You are greeted as friends and the selections are all fresh and made to order. Our pulled pork sandwich plate and our "pigwich" plate were delicious and value priced. We'd be back in a heartbeat. read more

Watson's is an experience. Go in, meet the owner, get fed. Some of the friendliest people you could hope to meet. The place is very family friendly right down to the patio kittens. The BBQ is pretty good, the sausages were definitely the stand out. Anything baked you should eat... outstanding. You won't regret making this a stop. read more

Watson's BBQ - Patio seating. - Barbeque Near Me - Tucumcari, New Mexico

Driving cross country in a moving truck with a trailer during the pandemic makes food stops really difficult. We hit the food jackpot here. Best food and people. Great bbq. Delicious Mac and cheese and cookies and cobbler. Omg what a treat. Fantastic!!! read more

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Dine in by eating on the patio which was a nice break from being in the car. Lots of interesting decor and genuinely friendly service. The food was pretty standard and nothing spectacular but it did satisfy us. I was hoping for a bit more flavor. Maybe we should have tried the ribs. read more

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May not look like much, but EXCELLENT BAR-B-QUE. Don't forget to SIGN the wall. Beware of Bear read more

If you want the best service in the USA this is the place! I have never felt so at home in an eating establishment,it was like I was at my uncles house. They explain everything to you, come talk to you and engage with everyone who visits. It's a must stop on Route 66, an a real American place with values and good food. We stopped by on our way from Dallas to Sante Fe and about an hour after we left I realized forgot my sunglasses! Worst nightmare for long drive into the sun. My wife called them and asked if they are open on Sunday when we drive back, they are not but they put my sunglasses in the mailbox for me to pickup. Wow you just don't get that kinda service anymore, please stop by and check this place out if you can. read more

The turkey was really good. I didn't like the sausage but that's just me I think other people would maybe like it, I was just a little surprised it had cheese in it and that threw me off. The macaroni tasted pretty good just wasn't very hot the potato salad was good and cold. They were out of pulled pork pretty early so I was sad about that. read more

Watson's BBQ - 2 meat plate -Turkey and sausage, potato salad, white cheddar Mac, bread and a cookie and two cups of bbq sauce - Barbeque Near Me - Tucumcari, New Mexico

Doesn't look like much from the outside. You walk in and it look like a store. The restaurant is located towards the rear. Owner has that southern hospitality. I ordered the two meat meal which included brisket, pork ribs and double order of coleslaw. Loved the ribs and liked that sauce was on the side. Brisket was fair and I probably wouldn't order that again. It was cut too thick and didn't have any flavor. The coleslaw didn't have much sauce but I liked it like that. Topped it off with a large cookie All and all I would recommend this BBC joint. read more

Watson's BBQ - Order station - Barbeque Near Me - Tucumcari, New Mexico

Very friendly staff! Brisket and pulled Pork very good, not a lot of fat. Ribs good too. The bbq sauce and the Mac and cheese stood out for us as really good. The cobbler was excellent both the peach and the apple-we even got some to go. read more

the food was outstanding! Also the service was great. cute shop with a lot to look at and buy. I got the green chile burrito. eem good!! We're trying to get there before they close! read more

You may drive right by this place. Kind of a flea market restaurant combo, it has a hole in the wall local feel. Jimmy and Stella will greet you and ensure you have everything you need. They have been at it since 1983 and the pulled pork is definitely top notch. I tried the brisket (meaty and juicy) and my husband had the sausage. It is smoky and packed with flavor. We even sampled the green chili cobbler - something I thought was truly unique! We were just passing through from Utah to Arkansas, but definitely felt we were among friends for lunch! read more

Watson's BBQ - Brisket - Barbeque Near Me - Tucumcari, New Mexico

This place is so fun! A must see before you leave Tucumcari. We stopped before heading out of town and ordered the brisket burrito. It was probably the best burrito we have ever eaten!! The owners were so so kind and accommodating; we felt as though they'd known us for years. If you can, please visit this mom and pop store and restaurant. Don't forget to sign your name on the wall before you leave and also explore the outdoor seating are! Can't wait for our next road trip out west to visit Watsons again! read more

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The best bqq in the area! Brisket was perfect, links had so much flavor, definetely a must try if you are in the area. Service was outstanding! read more

What? Inside a cute little farm and ranch store, with lots of neat stuff on the walls. Very friendly people. Stopped because of the rave reviews. Hubs had ribs and brisket plate. I had smoked turkey. Both of us had beans and coleslaw. It also came with a big piece of homemade bread and a cookie! Everything was delicious. The brisket is not what we are used to ( Texas brisket can't be matched) but was good. To end our meal we shared a Green Chili Apple Cobbler. It was so different and yummy. Believe me, you should try it. One of the best stops on our road trip. read more

Came here for a pit stop on our road trip... best darn brisket burger I've ever done had!!! The gentlemen and lady running the place is as nice as can be! What a treat!!! Easy 5 stars! Great price too!!! You gotta try it! read more

Watson's BBQ - Ordering Counter - Barbeque Near Me - Tucumcari, New Mexico

OMG the food is SO good! I ordered a po-boy and couldn't decide between brisket and pulled pork so they gladly made me a half-and-half. I still couldn't decide which meat I liked better because they were both so delicious! The beans were a great side and I really was delighted with the lemonade too. But the best treat of all was an order of green-chili apple cobbler - wow-o-wow! And thanks, too, to all the friendly and help folks there. I wish I wasn't just passing through town. This is by far the best meal I've had, maybe ever. read more

We were on a road trip from California to South Carolina and stopped in here for some barbecue. This restaurant is ran by the sweetest people. We were taken care of so well and the food was excellent. If you are headed down Route 66, definitely stop by for some wonderful food and great hospitality! read more

Off the beaten path the BBQ was great. Just enough sauce. Cookies were very good and the apple green pepper cobler was a surprise delight The owners are very friendly and helpful. An eclectic collection of items both to look at and for sale. We ate on the patio with the cats read more

This hidden gem is just off the main hwy I40, a block or so from Route 66. When you exit the hwy you get a chance to see what it was like on the old forgotten route. The BBQ is inside the Tucumcari Ranch supply. Free parking on the lot. Go on inside and browse around for a cute horse or cowboy gift. Then make your way over to where the dining area is. Don't be expecting a fancy set up. This is simple and cute with a couple booths and picnic tables. But don't let that fool you, your mouth will be delighted shortly. You can place your order at the window and then the magic begins. We had brisket and pulled pork sandwiches with beans and coleslaw. They have cold beverages as well. Fair prices for delicious homemade barbecue. Definitely try the homemade green chili apple cobbler. We also took burritos to go since the meat was so good. Plus, the best part was making the acquaintance of Josh, who took our order and prepared our food. And a Cubs fan no less! We also met Mr Jimmy Watson, owner of the store and had a wonderful chat with him about the store and what was happening in this area of NM. Real nice folks serving up some really great barbecue. It was a pleasure to meet them and I'm looking forward to the next time I'm in the area. Do not pass up a chance to stop. read more

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Some of the best BBQ I've had in recent memory, and the fact that the rest of the place is a hardware store just really is the cherry on top. I highly recommend. read more

Just driving through Tucumcari. Found Watson's on Yelp. Excellent food & service. We will stop by again on way home. Highly recommend read more

Just stopped by Watson's BBQ for lunch. Chopped brisket sandwich & a black cherry cola. This little joint is no joke. The Brisket was moist & flavorful not to smokey with a little BBQ sauce & a bun that was so soft. A little bit of heaven in every bite. The Watson's & staff are super friendly & inviting. Making us feel very welcome. There's a gift shop too. read more

Wow- I know that's not really descriptive, but- wow! My husband said it probably the best brisket he's ever had. The beans were delicious with a little bit a spice. The sausage was green chili and cheese with beef and pork. Jimmy made us a little sampler platter. He also brought out a recipe he was working on, green chili apple cobbler. He can probably stop working, it was amazing. For us , what truly makes a dining experience memorable, and stand out, is the staff. We met the owner, Jimmy and his lovely wife of 45 years. He gave a full menu breakdown and helpful suggestions. His wife got the boys situated with writing their names on the wall, it's a thing there. Not only were the owners welcoming, but the rest of the staff was too. Everyone made us feel super welcome! read more

Watson's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Tucumcari, New Mexico

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Wow- what a wonderful stop in Tucumcari for lunch. The menu is varied with something for everyone! We enjoyed Frito pie and a brisket/sausage sandwich. And you can peruse the store for interesting souvenirs! The owners are probably some of the friendliest people we have encountered in our travels. read more