Barbecue restaurants featured on ‘Check, Please! Arizona’
If you want rich flavors and tender meat that falls right off the bone, then “Check, Please! Arizona” has you covered. We compiled a list of Arizona restaurants serving BBQ that we’ve featured on “Check, Please! Arizona.”
Little Miss BBQ
Don’t let the name fool you. Little Miss BBQ offers big and bold flavors across its locations.
Owner Scott Holmes said they do meat-market style so guests can enjoy as much or as little as they want. Holmes said there is something for everyone, and guests can enjoy a variety of side dishes to accompany their meal, which they put as much effort into as the main menu.
Holmes said the restaurant was built from their dream of wanting to bring the best Texas-style barbecue to Arizona.
“It’s awesome that we get compared to the best places in the world,” Holmes said. “That mission that we have of really creating amazing barbecue, treating people really well and having a place where people can have a great experience, we’re doing it.”
Out of all the BBQ places in the U.S., guest Aziel Koski said Little Miss BBQ is the best. He said he always goes for the brisket and pulled pork alongside three different in-house barbecue sauces.
You can try Little Miss BBQ at 8901 N. 7th Street, Phoenix, AZ, and you can visit their website for more information.
Helluva Brewing Company
This neighborhood staple gives guests good company and even better food.
Shawn Shepard, owner of Helluva Brewing Company, said the menu offers a wide selection of sharable plates, custom burgers and beer-infused food.
Shepard also said guests can find beers to accompany their meal, as many as 18 to 20 beers on tap, with a mix of flagship and seasonal beers. For guests wanting the latest on the beers they are offering, they can sign up for text alters to be the first to know.
“I want to get my guests to experience a feeling of togetherness,” Shepard said, “and an experience of having good food and good beer.”
Guest Natalie Gentry said it was the good food and family-friendly atmosphere that kept her coming back. Every visit, Gentry enjoys the bourbon barbecue burger, which is served with peach-ale infused sauce and a side of handmade fries.
You can try Helluva Brewing Company at 3950 W. Ray Road, Chandler, AZ, and you can visit their website for more information.
Nana’s Kitchen
At Nana’s Kitchen, passion for providing vegan soul food is at the forefront. Husband-and-wife duo Rob and Nequa Matthew bring a unique twist to their menu and offer a celebration of flavor.
The restaurant is named in honor of Nequa’s grandmother, and guests feel like a part of the family. Nequa said it was her grandmother who inspired her culinary journey and even lends a hand in the kitchen.
Their standout dishes include vegan ribs, which keeps guests coming back for more. Guests say you can’t say you’ve tried Nana’s Kitchen until you’ve had their Hood rolls, which are mac-n-cheese, collard greens and yams packed into an egg roll wrapper.
Guest Bill Kunz said the plant-based burger has impressive texture with the authentic feel of good ol’ American cheese.
You can try Nana’s Kitchen at 777 N. Arizona Avenue, Chandler, AZ, and you can visit their website for more information.
Joe’s Real BBQ
Joe’s Real BBQ serves up a variety of styles of barbecue for guests to enjoy. Joe Johnston, a partner of the company, said the ingredients come right from Arizona. They also use Arizona pecan wood to get their flavor dishes because it is the perfect balance, Johnston said.
The building also has a lot of history. Before becoming Joe’s Real BBQ in 1997, the building was once home to a grocery store, storage building, movie theatre, lamp factory and a church. Johnston said he wants guests to be transported back in time when they visit and enjoy the atmosphere.
“Our goal is, for when you walk in, to feel as though the original use of this building was this barbecue,” Johnston said. “Hence some of the decor, (it’s an) homage to Arizona highways and the glory of Arizona as an exotic place to visit.”
Guest Frank Marazita said after enjoying the four-meat platter, which came with the brisket, jalapeno sausage, ribs and pit ham, he headed next door to enjoy ice-cream from Topo. Owned by the same owners of Joe’s Real BBQ, he said it is the best way to end a visit.
You can try Joe’s Real BBQ at 301 N. Gilbert Road, Gilbert, AZ, and you can visit their website for more information.
Sweet Magnolia Smokehouse
Sweet Magnolia Smokehouse brings guests on a trip to the South through their delicious dishes and Southern spirit.
Owner Derry Hammond said they serve up Southern-style barbecue cooked both slowly and thoughtfully. As a family business, Hammond said the recipes have been passed down through generations, and each member of the family takes on a special role to keep the place running.
“Here at Sweet Magnolia, this is definitely the identity of a family-owned business,” Hammond said. “That’s why Sweet Magnolia is still up 14 years later.”
Guest August O’Neal said she feels like a part of the family when she dines at Sweet Magnolia. Every visit, O’Neal said she orders the same dish: a slab of ribs alongside a double mac and cheese, double greens and cornbread. She also said they offer a variety of sauce options to accommodate all types of spice levels.
You can visit Sweet Magnolia Smokehouse at 4929 E. Chandler Blvd., Phoenix, AZ, and you can visit their website for more information.
Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company
At Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company, it’s not just a brewery; it’s a locally-sourced and water-saving haven. Owner Jonathan Buford said sustainability is at the forefront. He said they save 100 million gallons of water per year.
They put the same level of care and attention into their menu as well, Buford said. The restaurant goes beyond a typical brew-pub fare, and they offer vegan options and plant-based substitutions for all their burgers and chicken sandwiches.
“We’re really trying to showcase this great state of Arizona,” Buford said. “Come have a really good meal, a really good beer or a non-alcoholic beverage and just really enjoy this community-driven space that we’ve built for you.”
Guest Stacy Hettmansperger said she loved how homemade the dishes tasted and how it perfectly combined sweetness, saltiness and spiciness.
You can try Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company at 721 N. Arizona Avenue, Gilbert, AZ, and you can visit their website for more information.
Hundred Mile Brewing Company
Hundred Mile Brewing Company serves up a number of dishes, along with delicious barbecue.
Sue Rigler, owner of Hundred Mile Brewing Company, said guests will also find a variety of beers to accompany their meal. All of the beer is brewed on site, but they do offer guest taps. Rigler said they have a selection of true-to-style beers.
Rigler said she wants all the guests to feel that Hundred Mile Brewing Company is welcoming right as they walk through the door.
“These are your guests,” Rigler said, adding, “How you treat them and how they feel is going to bring them back.”
You can try Hundred Mile Brewing Company at 690 N. Scottsdale Road, Unit A, Tempe, AZ, and you can visit their website for more information.
CC’s on Central
This hidden gem offers bold flavors and spice. At , Sharon Cunningham, Owner and Operator, said she incorporates home-style cooking mixed with soul food, all topped with Creole flavors. She said she pulled inspiration from the dishes she grew up loving.
“I believe that if you’re not sneezing, it’s not seasoned,” Cunningham said. And “The Arizona Republic” named this gem the best spot to find fried chicken in Phoenix.
Guest Allie Knoble said she had the fried chicken dinner, which came with sweet potatoes and greens. She said the chicken was juicy, crispy and fell right off the bone. The seasoning was savory, buttery and sweet, and the honey butter biscuits were “to die for.”
You can try CC’s on Central at 2800 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ.
Rusconi’s American Kitchen
Michael Rusconi, the chef proprietor, said Rusconi’s American Kitchen offers a fine dining and contemporary experience with a variety of dishes, from seafood to grilled steaks.
Rusconi said their best sellers are the pecan-wood grilled blackberry glaze salmon and their beef tenderloin medallions with truffle-scented macaroni and cheese.
To cook up these delicious meals, they use a wood-fired grill. He said they use pecan wood for its great flavor and versatility.
“They can see the care that goes into our food,” Rusconi said.
Guest Brett Gitskin said it was the extra touches they add to their plates that sets Rusconi’s American Kitchen apart from other restaurants in the Valley.
You can visit Rusconi’s American Kitchen at 10637 N. Tatum Blvd., Phoenix, AZ, or visit their website for more information.
Want more Arizona restaurant recommendations? Watch “Check, Please! Arizona” for inspiration for your next meal out, or view a different list of Arizona restaurants featured on “Check, Please! Arizona.”
