AT JL Smokehouse

This place was great. The food was absolutely delicious and the staff were extremely friendly. The mac and cheese was so creamy and the meat was super flavorful. The staff make this place amazing, they were all so friendly always checking in on us. 100/10. Prices were amazing for the amount of food you got too. Will come back!!

I knew when the gentlemen behind the counter presented my plate to me that the brisket was going to be a big disappointment and it was. Mark wiens introduced me to Little Miss BBQ and I haven’t found a place in Arizona to top them yet. Imagine my surprise seeing mark review another local bbq place, I immediately go to the reviews and decided to stay with little miss bbq unfortunately today 11-24-2025 little miss bbq is closed and I needed my brisket fix so I against my better judgement decided upon Jl’s 🤦🏽‍♀️ I’m from Florida born and raised with a Texas born and raised father so I know bbq THIS AINT IT!! There’s no way your briskest should be this dry and tough; I mean to even put this on someone’s plate that is paying you their hard earned money is shameful. I spent $30 on a 3 meat 2 sides plate and absolutely nothing was good. The ribs were just as dry and flavorless. The Mac and cheese isn’t baked and the noodles were mushy and just as bland. The only thing I ate was the sausage and in order to eat those I had to dip them in the juice from the beans because I didn’t like the bbq sauce. I read the reviews I watched the TikTok’s and read the comments and knew it would be a hit or miss but I’m still baffled. Needless to say my dog had a $30 lunch.

The bbq was excellent. Some of the best I’ve had. Never really have pork ribs but JL’s were delicious. Kind of a hole in the wall kind of restaurant but it definitely did not disappoint. The staff were extremely friendly. Can’t wait to come back.

The cornbread totally surprised me and ended up being my favorite part, even more than the barbecue. We tried a ton of food had leftovers to turn into tacos and the service was so sweet. It is not fancy but it is perfect for takeout, picnics or just a fun meal. I would definitely go back.

Tried this as a little place different. I could smell the smoker cooking the meat in the back when walking into the restraunt. The portion size was nice. I chose the pulled pork PO Boy. Flavorful. The BBQ sauce had a slight spicy bite that took away from the smoke flavor of the meat. I say slight spice because I normally don't have any spice, however the person I was having lunch with and eats spicy regularly did not notice a spice. The fries were nicely seasoned. Do not the interesting parking behind the building scare you off. The food is good and worth checking out. The staff was also cordial. I will come back.

I'm traveling from our if town and decided to stop here for lunch. It was just okay. The staff was great. Five stars for them. Brisket was fine. Ribs were fine. Pulled pork was fine. Smoked bologna was pretty good. Beans were subpar. Mac 'n cheese was really bad. The BBQ sauce was horrible! It was way too runny & came out like water. With the exception of when I make my own, I haven't had smoked bologna in a really long time, so I was stoked to see it as an option. All the restaurants in Oklahoma have it. If somebody told me they were traveling to Phoenix and wanted a barbecue recommendation, I would not send them here. Not bad, but definitely not worth the recommendation.

We used JL Smokehouse for a catered event we had in our backyard and it was by far the best BBQ we've ever had!!! We ordered the ribs, chicken, brisket, mac-n-cheese, baked beans, cabbage, green beans and rolls and it was amazing! It was so juicy and tasty and all of our guests raved about the food and the customer service and experience given by James and his daughter who was helping. If you're ever looking to have some great BBQ or need a caterer for an event, JL Smokehouse is the place to go! Super impressed with James, his story, and everything he has to offer! We highly recommend him!

THIS PLACE!!! If you are ever in Phoenix, AZ be sure to eat here! Not only was the food great but the music was on point! Gave the whole vibe of back in the day bbq’s! The customer service was spectacular too.

Outstanding pulled pork, brisket, okra and collards. Friendly staff and quick service. Very comfortable, old school bbq setting. Highly recommend. Don't drive by too fast or you'll miss the entrance:)

I'm traveling from our if town and decided to stop here for lunch. It was just okay. The staff was great. Five stars for them. Brisket was fine. Ribs were fine. Pulled pork was fine. Smoked bologna was pretty good. Beans were subpar. Mac 'n cheese was really bad. BBQ sauce was horrible. Way too runny! It came out like water! With the exception of when I make my own, I haven't had smoked bologna in a really long time, so I was stoked to see it as an option. All the restaurants in Oklahoma have it. If somebody told me they were traveling to Phoenix and wanted a barbecue recommendation, I would not send them here. Not bad, but definitely not worth the recommendation.

The experience there was truly delightful. Surprisingly, the cornbread stole my heart, even as someone who usually isn't drawn to it. It arrives looking like a pancake, but the flavor is incredible! While the barbecue was good, I found myself slightly disappointed. No regrets, though--I plan to elevate my mac & cheese by adding green chilies for that extra kick when I get home. The potato salad had a sweetness that wasn't quite my preference, but don't get me wrong still good and home made as for the coleslaw was refreshing, especially when mixed with the barbecue sauce. We indulged in a feast of six meats--perhaps too much for just the two of us--but we're excited to transform the leftovers into amazing tacos. After seeing it featured on the news, we drove an hour to experience this gem, and it was well worth it. This place has earned a spot on my list of go to spots. While not a typical date night spot, hints it is a BBQ place and not much to look at again don't get me wrong its fine but it's perfect for takeout; imagine a lovely picnic or a fun backyard gathering. A day by the river with this delicious food would be truly fabulous. as for the service could not ask for a better service they were super sweet .

A solid bbq spot. The service was great. The dining/waiting area was clean. They do have music playing in the background but it's not so loud that you can't easily converse with others around you. The wait time to receive our order wasn't too long. The meats were well seasoned with the brisket being a little on the spicy side. The BBQ sauce was not great, too much vinegar not enough flavor.

BBQ Parking behind the building. The inside is like a traditional BBQ joint. You order at the counter. This review is solely for the items I ordered and I have not sampled any of the other food. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich and a side of beans and macaroni and cheese. First, let me say the sides are probably enough for two people so bring a friend and maybe each order one side and split them. My meal with a can of soda was just under $25. This style of barbecue appears to me to be more of almost like a North Carolina or vinegar based style with a little mix of spicy. It's definitely a spicy or style of barbecue than something sweet like a baby Rays or other store-bought barbecue sauce you're probably used to eating. Their sauce is thinner and has a pretty good taste and spice to it. The beans have good flavor and are also somewhat spicy so maybe buy yourself a second drink because you'll be drinking it. The mac & cheese was of the right consistency that mac & cheese should be. It was not runny. It had decent flavor and was even tastier when I put some of the barbecue sauce on it. Let's get to the pulled pork sandwich. The portions were fine. It came on a nice fresh bun, but as opposed to being pulled pork, it looked like more like chopped up pork, and to be honest it did not have an overly smoky taste. It was moist and you could tell it was barbecue and not like a pork chop, but it just didn't have enough smoked flavor for me. Some of the bark even tasted almost crispy, like a pork rind. Slathered in sauce it went down fine, but I'm not gonna lie, I was really missing that smoky flavor and a good bark that you typically get from well done barbecue. I'll definitely go back and try some of their other meats and see if they are any different. I'm going to have to take off one star just for the lack of smoke flavor because after all it is barbecue, but all in all my sandwich was decent but not the best I've ever had. I would've taken off half a star for the price because I don't think a lunch should cost almost $25 especially when I know how much pork shoulder costs, but since the sides really were enough for two people, they'll keep their half a star. Give it a try but go in knowing it is not gonna be sticky sweet barbecue. It's going to be more of a vinegar base style of barbecue.

Went here for lunch. 1st time. Was excellent. I got the baked potato stuffed with brisket. Was huge. Couldn't even finish it. Had it for the next two other meals. You want good BBQ, this is the place to go.

My daughter and I visited her today and purchases the brisket sandwich with fries and pulled pork loaded baked potato and collard greens. The food was delicious and great flavors. The brisket was moist and well seasoned. The fries were lightly battered given a crunchy texture and the loaded potato was amazing! The collards were ok lack seasoning but added some brisket and seasoning made it better. Overall, great customer service who provided recommendations for sandwiches.

I ordered online for pick up. It said 30 mins. I got two Whippersnapper lunches, no frills. The dude at the counter was effervescent and friendly. Sadly, when I arrived 30 mins later, he told me they were out of collards. I switched to coleslaw but they were out. How about baked beans? Out. It sounded like the cook needed to arrive sooner. As I waited for my order, he told others that they were out of wings and smoked sausage. They better knock me out with the food on this one. My order was ready on time. I checked the order before leaving and everything was fine this time. In all it came to $37.90, which was about right for BBQ. JL BBQ is wearing me down with the restrictions: first it was the hours; now the availability of menu items so what's next?

The food, hospitality, and prices were on point. Nothing too fancy but as good as the food and service were, I would definitely recommend and be a returning customer.

I cannot say enough good things about JL Smokehouse! The food was AMAZING! We had the 3 meat platter with ribs, pulled pork and brisket! The flavor was perfect and the portions were generous. The potato salad was a unique delicious treat and you have to try the Hot Water Cornbread. It was unlike any cornbread I've had before now I have to figure out how to make it myself! We live almost an hour from this restaurant and happened by after an airport pick up. Next time, we will make a special trip because it's that good!

This was our first time trying JL Smokehouse and we had a fabulous experience. All of the food was delicious, and we got lucky and even met JL himself, his wife, and Dee who were all super sweet. They cook from the heart and it shows in the flavor of the food! We got the brisket, pulled pork and ribs, as well as Mac n cheese, bbq beans and a bbq brisket taco. All were yummy but the brisket was our fav - such a yummy flavor in the seasoning and perfectly tender. Food 10/10 Customer Service 10/10 We are excited to come back and try more of their menu, including their sandwiches and more tacos for lunch. We luckily live nearby. Happy to say we finally found a delicious arizona bbq place!

Very delicious bbq! Wonderful BBQ food and everything was well-done! The brisket was tender, juicy, and full of smoky flavor. The bbq sauce was perfect balance of tangy and sweet flavor. Other food options was absolutely good.

We flew in from Seattle and I was craving bbq. I'm from Texas and if you know you know Texas bbq is the BEST! As soon as we got off of the plane we headed to eat. And there is no better place to be go than an off the grid restaurant to get the flavor of the city. We arrived at JL Smokehouse and we were greeted with the smell of brisket. We ordered the Heavy Hitter. 5 meats and 3 sides. Brisket Ribs Chicken Cut ribs Pulled pork Baked beans Potato salad Coleslaw Meat was tender and nicely seasoned and char in the meat. The potato salad was the best side to me. Nicely seasoned soft but firm potatoes. Coleslaw had a nice vinegar kick in the back of the mouth. Nice and crunchy. Baked beans sweet and a little spicy. Just right. We did not try any dessert we were stuffed from the food. The heavy hitter is enough for 3-4 people. We never finished it all. This was a great experience. Awesome R&B music playing. Staff were extremely friendly and patient.

This is real bbq !!! The brisket sandwich was spilling over with delicious chopped brisket, the greens are the best I've ever had thier homemade bbq sauce is also top shelf ! Check them out!

Hubby just brought home takeout and oh my gracious! The St Louis ribs were amazing! Perfectly done! Great flavor! Fall off the bone! Everything else (Mac-n-cheese, greens, cabbage, okra, bread) was also good. The cabbage had some spice to it so be warned but the flavor was still really good. Hubby says the restaurant itself was small but amazingly clean (including the restrooms). The people were nice and friendly and knowledgeable about their product. We would definitely return!

I visited JL's Smokehouse yesterday and got "The Heavy Hitter" I'm glad I did! My Wife and I tore it up! Lol Well most of it, I'm eating what's left for brunch!I was ordering and didn't quite know what i wanted. Finn at the front of the house was patient with me and described the food with passion and love. Wifey Loved the Pork Belly We love the charred ends, Delicious! The ribs were fall off the bone Delicious. The Brisket was so smokey and the hot links were incredible. I chose the Mac & Cheese Hot water cornbread collard greens and BBQ Spaghetti. That BBQ Spaghetti was Amazing! The sauce was boss and the sausage was on point. The collard greens were moist and had a slight tang to them, just how I like them! The Mac & Cheese never disappoints I took that hot water cornbread and threw some maple syrup on it. If your looking for the best smokehouse in AZ go to JL's. The place is nice and cozy and the music Playlist is inviting makes you feel like your back home, were ever home is for you. Never Disappoints JL is an artist and cooks with love. I'll be back next weekend for sure.

I can't believe I've been living in this part of town for 10 years and first time trying this place. I was craving Bbq and saw this was the closest spot that was opened. Food is delicious, you can smell that familiar Bbq smell from outside. This is a quaint and clean restaurant, staff is super friendly. My husband and I ordered the Slugger - with Smoke Sausage, Rib Tips, Pulled Pork, Pork Belly, Hot Links, Potato Salad, Mac N Cheese, Collard Greens, Coleslaw, BBQ Beans, and BBQ Spaghetti. Everything was mouth watering oh so yummy!

Look folks, Phoenix is turning into a BBQ Mecca. JL is the diamond in the rough you have been searching for. The service is with courtesy and love of what is being done. The young lady at the counter is a delight. I watched her work her a$$ off and with a smile. You don't pay her enough JL Food, A+ brisket- moist and tender, great cut. Ribs- great bite, good Q. Chicken thighs, well smoked and skin charred just right. The pork belly had what tasted like a bit of cinnamon in the dusting. This made it a bit irresistible to me. The flavor was super interesting with the rich belly. Hot links had the right bite. Sides weee great too but I am being long winded. Suffice to say... hit up JL. It a bit of good que, it takes your mind off the heat.

The "The food was delicious. Visiting from Atlanta, Georgia, I called JL the pitmaster, John Madden of barbecue. He knows how to get down and dirty with it, and I like his style. He may be old school, but don't let that fool you. This particular location in Phoenix, Arizona, requires you to park in the back of the restaurant when you first come in. It kind of threw me off when I first pulled up, but that set the tone of the experience and his old school theology. But overall, I will be back. Again, the ribs were fantastic. You must give Mr. JL a try. It's nothing fancy, but it's old-school and worth it. It is one of America's hidden jewels in the land."

My buddy's dad works here, so they may be a little bias, but they said if you're ever in Phoenix, come check them out. They are super good! So when I found myself here in Phoenix, I just had to come and give this place a try. There's parking in the back. And it's right next to a church. There's indoor seating as well as outdoor seating. Pretty noisy though outside due to all the cars driving by. Their menu is pretty extensive. Lots of options. You can get things by the lb. Or in sandwhich form. Or if your ordering ribs by the rack. Lots of sides as well to choose from. Food takes a while to prepare. And we got it to go. They packaged everything so nicely. Gave us a whole bunch of sauce as well. They have their smoker outside in the back. So the smell of cooking meats just envelopes you and gets you salivating. Food was as good as advertised. We got the following, rated in order of what we liked the most : 1. Ribs- a rack of ribs is pretty big. But I wished I got a couple more racks. It was fall off the bone tender. Juicy!! Full of flavors. A nice bark on the outside. Add a little bit of their bbq sauce and it was perfection. I coulda probably polished off an entire rack myself, it was just so good!! 2. Brisket- they were super moist and tender as well. Easily tore apart just using a fork. Tasted amazing!! A couple more lbs of this would definitely have put me in a food coma. 3. Rib tips- these were really good as well. Crunch from the char. Full of flavors. A lb worth was a lot fortunately. It was just concentrated flavor. It was really good!!. 4. Pulled pork- maybe because everything else was amazing, this one was just ok. Tender. Moist. But because it was shredded so much you just can't appreciate the tenderness of it. We got the following sides: 1. Fried okra. Can't go wrong frying things, especially vegetables. And the okra was no exception. Nice crunch. But you still get the mouth feel from the inside. Seasoned well. Made me feel healthy with all that protein. 2. Green beans. It's a necessity to have some vegetables after eating all that meat. They were good. I also ordered some peach cobbler. Because you always have to end on a sweet note. It's good. Lots if peaches. Cooked well. Not overly sweet or buttery. It was good. If you're anywhere near Arizona, I would highly recommend coming here to get your BBQ fill!! It's definitely worth it!!

I had been searching for good bbq in the Phoenix area and through my Yelp search I came upon a JL Smokehouse. The ribs looked awesome but I saw that they had bbq spaghetti and I had to try that. I got to the location and I could smell the bbq from the smoker as soon as got out of my car. The person behind the counter was very nice and let me know that it was going to take a little time to prepare my order which was fine with me. Good food takes time. Well my order didn't take much time at all. The server showed me my order to ensure that it was correct. I really liked the smokiness of the ribs and the bbq sauce had a little kick. The ribs were tender but thankfully they were not "fall off the bone tender". The bbq spaghetti was awesome. It also had a nice spiciness. The smoked Italian sausage was out of this world. The next time that I visit JL Smokehouse I will order a few sides with my bbq.

The food was amazing. Perfectly seasoned! The place was spotless and the staff very friendly. When my husband, teenage son and I first saw the building right off the highway across from a convenience store we were skeptical. Boy were we in for a pleasant surprise! We will come back the next time we are in Phoenix!

I truly do not understand the reviews, this was not my experience at all. 5 stars is a joke and not accurate at all. The food was cold and service just ok. As to making reservation, for what? We found Charlie's Backyard BBQ in Mesa, which is consistently outstanding.

Reddit showed me this place and did not disappoint!!!! I could smell it from a block away. Bought a heavy hitter from me mom and wife and it was finger licking good!!! The sides were a huge portion. Has enough food for lunch and dinner. Thank you!!

I first went to JL's about 3 years ago, and have been there about 10 times since. For the price, its an extremely good value. The owner is a wonderful human being and genuinely a good guy to be around....now lets get to the food part. Its VERY smoky BBQ. Their pulled pork is top tier and their rib tips are great. Brisket wise....I am not too much a fan of the brisket.. It's just a bit dry for my personal taste of brisket...and I dont know if thats the meats problem or a process problem but it definitely could be a lot juicier. Hot Links are legitimately spicey! Ribs and rib tips are pretty darn good too. Sides: Don't miss out on the potato salad. Its got some spice to it, and its the type of spice that makes you want to keep eating it. Overall its worth a trip to try it out. It isnt the absolute best BBQ I have ever had...but its better than 90% of the other places in the PHX area...outside of maybe 2-3 other places I have tried. Still giving it 5 stars because bang for your buck, it is very good.

I love this place BUT I am so disappointed came in today and got a plate with 3 meats and 2 sides greens and bbq beans were good but the rib tips,pork butt and brisket was BURNT no char but burnt I couldn't enjoy the meat most of it was over cooked

We saw this restaurant last year on Mark Weins travel blog food show on youtube. I told my husband let's do a road trip to AZ that coming weekend, but he said no. This month we had to fly to Ohio to take care of some family business and drive back to California. I told my husband we HAVE TO GO to JL Smokehouse on the way back...and so we did. :-) The food did not disappoint. Let me tell you about the hospitality first. The women working there were so personable. It really was like being home with family. JL was not there (initially). I was disappointed because we really wanted to meet him and even when I saw him on TV you could tell he was a really genuine person. On to the food...we ordered the Heavy Hitter and got the Smoke sausage Pulled pork 3 orders of ribs Pork belly Sides: Macaroni and cheese Collard Greens Potato Salad Baked Beans Peach cobbler for dessert And a side of rib tips. I want to add that we were only allowed to triple up on the ribs because they were out of a few things. I don't believe this is their standard practice. We wanted to try the brisket but we had arrived later in the day so they were all out. We also purchased their bottled seasonings and bbq sauce. EVERYTHING WAS DELICIOUS!!! I am not the biggest fan of pulled pork however the pulled pork here was the best I've ever had. As we were leaving my husband saw JL and I was sooooo excited. We went back across the street and I asked if I could take a picture with him and post it. He is sooooooo sweet. Such a kind man. It was truly a pleasure meeting him and his staff. The entire experience was memorable. I highly recommend this restaurant. And remember "if you flip your ribs when you are grilling them "you're an amateur" LOL We will be back next time we embark on a road trip.

This is a hole in the wall that's worth a try. We got the heavy hitter with brisket x2, pulled pork, chicken, and ribs. The sides were potato salad, Mac & cheese, and baked beans. All of the meat was really except the brisket. It was just ok. It was not far from almost being a little dry. We got what seemed like 2 different potato salads and both of them were really good. One tasted spicy and had a more smoked flavor. The Mac & cheese was decent. Nothing super special but not nasty either. The beans were undercooked but the flavor of them was there. The bbq sauce served on the side had too much of a vinegar flavor for me. We also got the brisket tacos and a side of hot water cornbread. Those tacos were AMAZING! I loved the freshness of the jalapeno and cabbage that were on top. The hot water cornbread was gummy. I think it was from the moisture so if I ever got that again, it would probably be during dine-in only. The serving was huge though. The cashier was patient, especially as we slowly combed over the menu trying to decide. And the lady working the kitchen was nice.

The food is good, but it takes forever to place an order, over 20 mins. The staff is very rude and unprofessional. The restaurant is clean, the staff sucks.

I did finally get most of my refund. I appreciate that. Still probably won't go back. ‍

BarBQ is soooo good, you don't need the sauce. Remarkable! Diamond in the rough. Reasonable prices and delicious food both meats and sides. I travel the country and this is great "Que"! If you don't visit this family business, it's your loss.

Stop waiting for hours in line at LMB and go get your BBQ here! JL is a hands on owner and is in the kitchen making sure your meal will be 5 stars. I have used him for catering twice and my staff has had nothing but positive and great things to say. No one left the meeting hungry and the staff who were not part of the meeting were as equally thankful to get a plate. His catering packages truly give you one of everything to try! Our package had the hot links, brisket, pulled pork and ribs and we also added chicken. Whatever seasoning is in the French fries is addicting! JL is truly passionate about his place, service and food, I must have forgotten some sides and when I got back to the office, our dispatcher told me JL was on his way to bring them to me and he did! You just don't see or get customer service like that anymore. He is every example of what an owner should be.

I love this place so much! It's my family's go to spot for bbq. We love to come here and get some smoked ribs and brisket. We also get the Mac and cheese/collard greens. The service is always prompt and amazing. We try to come here at least once a month or more and keep coming back for the ambiance of some good home cooking.

All good can't miss going here. Catfish is my favorite, greens and the cabbage are the bomb..

After having seen JL's on various vlogs, I knew it was a must-try next time I was in PHX. We visited on a Friday around Noon. They open at 11am I believe and surprisingly for a Friday lunch it wasn't crowded at all. What stood out right away, the prices here for the amount of BBQ you get is really fantastic. The 'combos' are your best bet if you have a group of 3 or more. We had 4 big eaters and had a LOT of leftovers! It was great. Our order: We got a choice of 6 meats and 4 large sides in our combo and we got; Smoked Sausage Pulled Pork (x2) Hot Link Brisket (x2) Mac & Cheese Bbq Beans Beans & Potatoes *This combo ALSO came with A WHOLE RACK of pork ribs, plenty of rolls & a new,unopened bottle of BBQ sauce to go - NICE! What we LOVED: *Smoked Sausage = just what you'd expect out of a smoked sausage, good flavor, nice "pop" of juiciness, and this one wasn't too fatty/gristly *Pulled Pork = very tender & the perfect amount of smokiness and flavor. Great with bbq sauce and without. *Hot Link = not too hot in my opinion but I tend to like things very spicy. Think cayenne hot for these links, nice kiss from the spice, but definitely not overpowering. *Pork Ribs = fall off the bone, great flavor from the rub, nice char, crispy bits on each bone, so good I didn't even want to add sauce to them. *Brisket = I am sure normally their brisket is scrumptious, however for us it was a miss. I was told the brisket wasn't ready yet they were resting. I said I would wait but when we got our food it had brisket. However, it was dry and didn't seem it was just off the smoker at all. Sad as we looked forward to this the most. *Mac & Cheese = This wasn't very warm nor creamy. It was pretty bland and boring tbh. We dolled it up once we got home and had it for leftovers, and warming it up definitely helped the taste. *BBQ Beans = Very much like "ranch beans", can't be sure but I think they were kidney beans which I loved and there was great flavor in the sauce too. It was tomato/bbq/spice. My only qualm was the beans were a tad under cooked. *Green Beans/Potatoes = Wonderful! String beans that were mixed with perfectly cooked/melt-in-your-mouth chunks of sweet potato and regular potatoes. The staff did mention they had just opened a 2nd location so maybe a little of the chaos was due to that. It also seemed like they were a tad short staffed as several things weren't available (specifically collards & spaghetti). Overall I have way more positive to say and we really did enjoy the bbq. I LOVE the family owned and operated aspect of it, like I said the prices, the physical location itself is cute and welcoming and there is nothing pretentious about it at all which I appreciate. I want GOOD FOOD & JL's GOT 'ER DONE! Can't wait to come back and try the stuff I loved and the stuff I didn't get to try.

4.95 stars! What a great experience! Executive summary (full experience, see below): *One of the most welcoming and friendly restaurants I've been too *Outstanding bbq, moist, flavorful wonderful wood flavor, excellent bark *Exemplary sides! The attention and game they bring to their bbq also goes to their sides! Truly a homemade touch and unique delicious flavor to the sides * ate here in the evening and came back the next day as I was leaving Arizona, that's how good this place is! My experience: This was a wonderful bbq experience. When I first arrived they looked closed as I entered the driveway to park in the back. However when I got to the parking lot I could see the smokers going which to me when a bbq place is cooking all day, that's a great sign of the freshness of the meats! I was greeted by the gentleman doing the smoking which was so unexpected and his sincerity was truly genuine and kind! Inside the decor is straightforward which for me is also an excellent sign that the focus and attention is on the food! I was greeted at the register by the one of the most friendly and absolutely stunningly beautiful woman I've seen in a long time! Truly genuine warmth and welcoming person. Always amazing when a restaurant says " we are going to take care of you". There's only 3 other places I've eaten that have had such exemplary welcoming friendliness: Harold's fried chicken in Chicago Sweet Georgia Brown's in Dallas Willie Mae's Scotchhouse in New Orleans And this place is now added to that list :-) Food: Ribs: moist, flavorful Brisket: juicy, tender I love that the sauce is on the side!!!!!! That way you can experience the flavor, the moisture of the meat and the expertise of the pit master! Greens: perfect! Not overly salty, not overcooked or mushy, perfect amount of crunch Okra: wow, nice breading, excellent flavor not greasy Potato salad: must be grandma's recipe as I haven't had a well seasoned and uniquely flavored potato salad before: delicious. Sweet roll: thumbs up Why 4.95 and not 5 stars you say? Well it's was close and the dings were minor: 1. I wish I could have had a pat of butter for my roll; that would have been perfect but that's just my preference 2. They were out of soap in the bathroom or the soap dispenser wasn't working, I'm kind of stickler for that! Overall: highly recommend and will be a "must eat at" with every visit to Phoenix!

There was a long wait and they were out of a lot of meats, but the food was SLAMMING so it was worth it. The brisket was tender. Sausage was very flavorful. All the sides Mac and cheese, spaghetti, corn bread were hitting. Good portions too. A lot of people called in orders ahead, and that seems to be the way to go.

Best bbq in town! Don't be fooled by the building nothing exciting. The brisket and pull pork was delightful. The water cornbread could have been thinner for more crunch but it was good. The potato salad was extra yummy. I don't normally like anyone's potato salad.

A true hole in the wall that honors their theme 'All Who Enter is Family', we were welcomed by Dee with a huge smile and fantastic attitude! They know their BBQ too. The Collard Greens are to die for!

Hands down, the best BBQ in AZ. I discovered this independent family restaurant from numerous recommendations and YouTube videos. Today, I ordered the pulled pork sandwich with a side of bbq beans. When my order arrived it was overstuffed with the most tender, juicy, and perfectly smoked pork I have ever eaten. It took a few minutes to fork it down before I could pick up the sandwich. An explosion of flavor and bbq perfection. The beans were expertly prepared and served with pride. I really enjoy visiting independent family run businesses. They really treat everyone like a long awaited friend Do yourself a favor and stop by to taste for yourself and bring friends

I had to check this spot out after hearing about the Ribs... unfortunately they were out but I had rib tips, chicken, brisket as I was "straddling the fence." I had to add an order of the smoked chicken wings as well! Everything was on point!!! I didn't get a chance to try the Peach Cobbler but that will be my next trip! The staff was extremely friendly and the food was delicious! Give them a try! I don't think you will be disappointed!

Came here on a random Thursday around noon while waiting for a friend to land in PHX. It's an easy place to overshoot while driving, but there was a decent amount of space for parking in the back. I got the 2 meats + 1 side platter. The BBQ Beans were tasty and rich! Loved the flavor but just know they're going to be heavy! The brisket was good, but not incredible. I assumed it would be the star, but was surprised that it was just okay, especially next to the BBQ pork belly. Oh my god the BBQ pork belly was the die for. I definitely wouldn't recommend coming here on a diet, but if you want legit flavor bombs, come here and get the BBQ pork belly. Had a perfect char on the outside and was still soft and juicy inside. The BBQ sauce itself was alright. I personally like a thicker sweet and spicy BBQ sauce and this one was more of a liquid tangy sauce. But that's just personal preference and I still enjoyed it. My only real knock against the place was that the wait was loooong. Took like 50 minutes after ordering for my food to come out. Given I had ordered at noon, I was getting pretty hungry as it was getting close to 1pm. It felt like they might've been accepting too many online orders and didn't expect as many dine-in orders. As a result, I'd recommend ordering ahead of time.

I drove past it so drive slow when you're pulling up. Lol - and not too far from the airport so great if you need somewhere close to flying in or out of Phoenix. I agree with another yelper that as soon as I opened my car door, I was met with the smell of the smoker. Yeeessss! Walked in and it definitely gave me a family, community, welcoming vibe. Everyone was super friendly and helpful. The pulled pork is amazing. You know the test of great BBQ is when you don't need to slather it in sauce. I didn't use an ounce of sauce on the pulled pork and it was flavorful and finger lickin delicious. I even made a little pulled pork slider with the roll they gave me, slid a little Mac and cheese in there and OMG. (Don't judge me..lol) All in all, I'll definitely be back next time I'm in Phoenix.

First time at JL Smokehouse. Passed by it several times the past few weeks. Located between a church and a house. If you blink, you may pass it by. Stopped in for a late lunch, parking is in the rear when the gate is open. Ready for some BBQ! Saw the sign for the JL Burger, made with brisket and pork belly. Never had that before, let's do it! Unfortunately, they were out. Second choice was the Rib Tip Sandwich and ordered a side of collard greens. With COVID social distancing, there were only tables along an inside wall. Was not looking forward to eating on the covered patio outside at 110 degrees. Saw someone leaving and scored a table inside so things looking good. Ordered a diet soda and they said it wasn't cold yet, so got a Pepsi and cold water bottle. My name was called and back to the table. The collard greens were very tender and tasty. It has been a while and these were very good. Rib tip sandwich looked great. Not quite sure how to eat it. The rib tips have small soft pieces of catlidge surrounded by tender meat morsels. Decided to separate the sandwich and practice some hand, mouth and teeth coordination and it worked well. Tasty morsels with great flavors. Used the buns to soak up the sauce. Will be back to try more BBQ and that brisket and pork belly burger. Service was great. Happy to see a family owned BBQ place in these times. Put this one on your list. All good here!

I come from the "hood" in California. BBQ everywhere in trucks, small stands, restaurants, everything. Soul food around. Everywhere I've tried near me is acceptable but I don't crave it. Except JL! Just tried it for the first time today with a whole van-load of family coming to visit from Cali and we were super duper impressed. Yes, it doesn't look like much. But don't judge a book by its cover! The flavors here are so amazing. We all had a different favorite. Mine's the pork belly and potato salad.

This place is amazing! The owner is about his business and has great customer service skills. The woman with braids took order and she was very sweet and hardworking. I ordered the pulled pork nachos, ribs, mac & cheese and beans. The mac and cheese tasted very homemade. The beans weren't bad, but they did not taste like baked beans, more on the chili side. Nachos were very very good. not one issue. Also tried their house lemonade, very good. Parking is available in back of restaurant. wait time is a bit long, but it was all worth it. The food is impeccable.

Finally got to stop by. I've been wanting to try the BBQ here for a long time. My overall rating is "pretty good". I think I over hyped myself on this place. Especially after watching Mark Wien's review. The breakdown: Brisket - wonderful, smokey bark. A little dry and not super tender. Falls way short of the brisket you can get at Little Miss. Pulled pork - juicy, and tender exactly how you hope it will be. Not a lot of flavor, but pour some sauce on it and it makes a great sandwich. Sausage - this was the shining star of today's meal. Absolutely wonderful smokey flavor. I will come back for this. I love brisket and this one was disappointing for me. Based upon today's serving I put this brisket, and JL's in third place behind Little Miss BBQ, and BobbyQ. Possibly first place for sausage. I still want to try a few other meats here, and the catfish dinner. I'll be back JL.

Yall......this food is the absolute best BBQ. Folks say it's the best BBQ in phoenix which I agree with but it's just great bbq regardless of location. The meet was tender and well seasoned and so were the sides. The service was impeccable too. Very attentive and you can tell they genuinely want everyone to enjoy their entire dining experience. So good. So so good.

Oh oh oh ! This is my Jl smoke house shout out!! I can cook my lil bootae off but bbq is not my forte so when the Bbq cravings hit, I hit the block and run to Jl's .. mac and cheese alone is enough reason but there pork belly taco gets my tummy rumbling hahahaha then its on.. everything on the menu is good! Supporting our local family restaurants, keeps a smile on my face and it also keeps our South Side neighborhood thriving!! Gotta get there early before the goods are gone .. it be like at Jl's .. selling out so good!