Bashful Bandit Barbecue

Review: The Bashful Bandit 4/5 Stars The Bashful Bandit, once a rough-and-tumble biker bar, has transformed into a charming barbecue joint while keeping its gritty charm intact. Located in Tucson, Arizona, this spot offers a unique dining experience with solid flavors and a local twist. The food here doesn’t disappoint. The menu highlights include the Green Chile Pulled Pork, which is a perfect nod to Arizona’s love of green chiles. It’s tender, smoky, and packs just the right amount of heat. The sides are flavorful and well-portioned, complementing the barbecue dishes nicely. What sets this place apart is the atmosphere. The owners preserved the original name and the bar’s personality, blending the old-school vibe with new touches. The addition of an outdoor patio is a great move—it’s spacious, inviting, and perfect for enjoying Tucson’s mild evenings. While the transformation from biker bar to barbecue joint might surprise some longtime patrons, it’s a refreshing update that appeals to both locals and visitors. If you’re looking for a spot with character, good barbecue, and a taste of Arizona, The Bashful Bandit is worth a visit.

Again, there needs to be half stars. Closer to 4.5 than a 4, but have to go with what is offered. The family and in-laws stopped in recently. I got the brisket sandwich, a couple of bones, and Mac and cheese. The brisket was on point (and the butcher cut the perfect slices from the fatty cap!). Great bark, flavor, fat, it was so good. The ribs were overcooked. Ok flavor, but were a bit mushy. The green chili pulled pork was not liked by any in the party. The mac and cheese was dry and thick. I'm sure it was better when it was first made. The vibe was cool, and my father in law told some great stories of when the place had been a biker bar decades ago. Would definitely go back.

Bashful Bandit Barbecue converted an old, intimidating biker bar into a beautiful family restaurant that includes indoor and outdoor dining. The ambiance on the newly crafted, spacious patio is all the rave with space heaters for cold evenings and very pet friendly. What a difference a brilliant mind can make. This is what slow cooked barbecue should taste like. Their brisket is spoon worthy, meaning so tender you can cut it with a spoon or just gently pull it apart with your fingers. The beef ribs (Saturday special) fell off the bone and were seasoned to perfection. I didn’t even need the barbecue sauce (they have a choice of 5 barbecue sauces you can have on the side, sweet, house,spicy, mole or gold). Each plate is served with complimentary pickles, jalapeños and/or pickled onions should you choose. I highly recommend the dill potato salad, amazingly fresh and creamy with plenty of dill. The mac and cheese was firm and indeed cheesy. I prefer my baked beans sweet with brown sugar however they serve flavorful barracho beans, “drunken beans”, a traditional Mexican and Southern Texas pinto bean dish flavored with beer, and spices. They have a kids meal for less than ten dollars making it super affordable for families. On top of it all, everyone that works there is friendly, but especially the humble and hard working owner who will check on your satisfaction personally and even come clear your plate. I’m fortunate to live in the neighborhood. Next time I’m going to save room for their 1 dessert option that looks and smells absolutely amazing!

Prime brisket was juicy and moist. Green chili pulled pork was good, not too spicy. Kick back atmosphere(I sat inside). Great service, polite , friendly. I will be back for sure.

Best BBQ in Tucson. I've tried a lot of bbq in the country, and this is one of the best places in the US. Definitely the best BBQ in tucson. Food 5/5: We ordered ribs, pork, sausage, chicken, and brisket. The brisket is by far the best I've ever had and my favorite item on the menu. The smokey flavor permeates the entire cut of meat. A close second for favorites was the sausage. Every item had delicious flavor was still being very moist. If you can make sure to try all 5 sauces they have available. Each dish arrived hot to the table. My favorite side item was the mac but each item was delicious in it's own right. Don't sleep on the sunflower salad! As an aside, I'd recommend trying the dessert as well (if you aren't full). Service 5/5: Customer service is great and the prices are reasonable. Better than BBQ I've had in Texas and Maryland. The atmosphere and service are so great that referring to it as customer service is a disservice to the friendly, prompt and engaging nature of the staff. Atmosphere 5/5: I really like the layout and patio seating. We sat inside for dine-in but there was a expeditious take out Service available. The music was lively without being over powering. The seating was very inviting and comfortable. The restrooms are clean an orderly. I enjoyed being able to see the smokers on my way in. Parking is readily accessible which is always a plus! Overall, this restaurant is a hidden gem here in tucson. I would recommend making the trip for a nice family dinner or dropping by for lunch. This restaurant is a great place to grab a bite with family and friends.

I have been here 3-4 times now, every time the food and service are incredible. I ordered the brisket and pulled pork, both were extremely good. But I will say the Brisket is the BEST! As a truck driver, I’ve been able to eat BBQ all over America, and this makes the short list for best brisket in America. If you’re a BBQ lover like myself, you need to go and try this place. I will say the Mac and Cheese and the ranch style beans were awesome too. My only complaint is that unfortunately I’ve only had the house made sausage once and 3 other times they were out of it.

Absolutely phenomenal barbecue spot with tender, flavorful cuts and the perfect fixings to go with! The patio has a lovely view of the fire-pits, which are open air, so the entire outdoor space is filled with the lush scent of the mesquite smoke. Without even considering the fairly decent local tap list, incredibly friendly staff, or the great art design and decor; I can easily say it's my favorite barbecue restaurant in Tucson.

I've been wanting to try for the longest time. I finally made it in today. I got the 2 meat plate ( Brisket and Green Chile Pulled Pork)and a Chile relleno sausage link with borraco beans. The best part for me was the natural flavor of the meat without the sauce. They have great flavor profile going on and the sausage was a surprise and probably the best link I've had in a hot minute. The sauces really didn't hit it for my palate. I'd say the OG was the best. To finish I took a crack pie togo and it was equally just as delicious. I will definitely be back in.

The smoked meat was great the sides and the bbq not so much . The Mac and cheese was processed tasting not homemade and the beans were ok . The food was warm not hot . It was okay

We gave Bashful Bandit a try as I wanted something to go for Superbowl Sunday which happened to fall on my birthday, and it was excellent. We placed a phone order for a pound of sliced prime brisket (half moist and half lean), a pound of green chile pulled pork, a pound of smoked mole chicken, four chili relleno sausage links, a quart of mac-n-cheese, a quart of the dill potato salad, and a pint of the borracho beans. Everything was correct when we arrived for the pickup. The food was flavorful, and my favorites were the mac-n-cheese and the chili relleno sausages. I recommend the Bashful Bandit!

This is a great spot for good Texas style barbecue! Upon entry, you're greeted with a large menu on the wall and a line to order your meats and sides-- Chipotle style! The staff is super friendly and they gave us great recommendations. As for the food, it was all super tasty! The brisket melts in your mouth, and do not miss out on the sausage because it packs a punch. As for the pork rib, it literally fell apart when I picked it up. The sides were solid, and i definitely recommend getting the Mac and Cheese. The only downside is their sauce selection. This is subjective, as I didn't enjoy how sweet all of the BBQ sauces were. But that's just me!

I'm not a big bbq eater, but I enjoyed a meal here. I generally like a white coleslaw, but the sunflower salad slaw was good and interesting. We ordered some brisket and they offer both sliced and chopped, but didn't ask and they immediately chopped it - if you prefer sliced, make sure to say that first thing. I really like the space though with loads of covered outside seating, plenty of inside space, a drink station and a sauce bar. I would love to come again with a group to munch and play cards.

We headed here a couple of hours before the main dinner hour, to enjoy a beer on a sunny Sunday, but couldn't resist digging in for a big meal. Creating a flight of bbq sauce really made my day, and it was nice to be asked about what chicken parts I preferred. Such a fun place to watch the bbq pit in action, nosh the delicious goods (including that famous crack pie), and enjoy live music on the spacious, comfy patio -- a relaxing vibe all the way, with friendly service and great food.

The bbq was just ok- our food was pretty cold and the meats were seasoned fine. Maybe the food would have been better if it was hot. The sides were also just ok. The one thing I really liked was the crack pie- but I also wish it came warm and with some ice cream. The ambiance of the restaurant is cool. Their outdoor space is shaded with twinkle lights. It seems like you can reserve the big tables for parties as well.

Juicy, moist, and delicious brisket and pulled pork. Vinegar slaw which they call sunflower crunch salad (note: make sure to get the toppings added to the salad to give it some great texture). I found the potato salad ok but not my favorite. The dill in it is a nice touch. Plenty of parking available and lots of seating inside or outside front patio. I love their bbq sauce station. Several choices of homemade sauces. I was enjoying the OG sauce. They have a bar as well. Prices are in line for a good bbq joint. I love seeing the smokers when you first walk in. Definitely will recommend this place!

The meat was delicious, we ordered four different meats and also their Cole slaw and potato salad as well as macaroni and cheese. It reminded us of the South Carolina barbecue we use to it. Definitely recommend it

I love bbq and was really excited to try Bashful Bandit. I tried their brisket (fatty option), pork rib, and chile relleno sausage with sides of dill potato salad and mac n cheese. Everything was good and fresh. The sausage and brisket were juicy and tender, but the rib was a little dry. I love potato, but there was too much dill for my liking. The mac n cheese was soft, creamy and cheesy. The sausage had a crisp outer skin, but the meat was too soft for my liking. I prefer to have more chew, but not to the point where the meat is overcooked/well done. I think I would have liked the lean brisket instead, due to the tenderness of the fatty meat. Anyhow, the portions were quite large and I had more than enough bbq meat for the next day. Honestly, I think it all tasted even better the next day. The meats had the perfect consistency for me, not too soft and not well done. The mac n cheese's cheddar flavors were even stronger than the day before. It was all a great meal, the 2nd time around. :) *Although I didn't taste it, my husband said the bbq jackfruit (and mushrooms) was overly smoked which took over any other flavors there might have been.

Bashful Bandit is in my opinion the best BBQ in town. The staff is great, always very helpful. This is a legit BBQ spot!! This building has some stories from when it was a biker bar and sounds like even before that too. They did a nice job remodeling the place and by keeping one wall original, even with the bullet holes

Nice option for BBQ. Good food but pricey for what you get. A single meat (chicken) and two sides and a cookie dessert, $28.00 Need more focus on food and not being so trendy. The rent can't be that high... The best BBQ in Texas is not trendy, it's just straight forward from real people. I'd pass.

I have now been twice to the bashful bandit and I have to say both times were excellent. This is sort of the Texas bbq experience I think people want to have but still has some Tucson influence in their menu and you can taste it. The environment is welcoming and friendly while the staff is both friendly and helpful with any questions you have. Definitely recommend if you have a group of people as I think bbq is one of those things that's Better with friends. We ordered the platter with brisket and ribs and everything was great. Will definitely be coming back with other friends and probably will be planing work events here too

Good barbecue! I had the Bashful Tray with 1/2 lb brisket and ribs, added a sausage, and had sides. The sides were The crack pie I liked the sauce options. Seating plentiful inside and outside with some neat decor leftover from the previous place.

Finally we have a chance to try this restaurant. Easy to spot and spaces parking area. Very nice, clean, and good place. Inside is not that big, but they have patio. Nice and friendly host. Not many varieties of food but enough. Tender, juicy, and delicious pork ribs (my son loves it) Tender and moist prime brisket. They have several different sauces, but none of them spicy .

Food was amazing! Service was great! Ambiance was so cool too! I highly recommend the potato salad, chili relleno sausage, and smoked crack pie!

Ok first is I'm so impressed with the change and the BBQ was off the hook! We were met right when we walked in and asked if we wanted drinks. Amazing! You order meat first and then get your sides. We did family style and shared so we could try all the meats. Granddaughter loves Mac n cheese and she ate her whole side portion plus half of the other. Definitely will go back!

Have been into bbq, specifically Texas style for over 25 years. Have taken classes, own 3 smokers and 'Que is one of my favorite foods to cook and share, with a specialty in brisket... So, when I walked in the door at BB, greeted by Jesse who pronounced that he would put the brisket up against anyone's in Tucson, it was a bold statement. NOT...Even..Close. I wanted to fall in love with the food here, please know that was my hope going in. Ambiance/Cleanliness-The smokers by the patio look and smell inviting. Inside is clean and welcoming. Its got a great vibe, from the counter to the music being played. Parking lot is on the small side. 4 stars Service-Jesse was great.. He listened and stood his ground..admirable. 5 stars. Food..damn. 1st thing...the "fatty" brisket is close to inedible...its soupy...and only people with dental problems who can't chew should order it. Devoid of bark and smoke flavor. The chicken leg was also devoid of smoke flavor and pretty small. I had 3 bites. Mac n cheese was good, excellent pasta texture, good flavor. Sunflower crunch was tasty, but inderseasoned. Approached Jesse and let him know that food was not to my liking, showing him how little I had eaten...he offered a refund, which I did not accept...but DID accept three thick slices of brisket that he offered off of a new brisket, from the flat cut. MUCH better, but still quite soft. Doubt that id make the effort to go back. 2 stars.

Best BBQ outside of that one state where everything is bigger. Just follow your nose hard to miss the smell of all those smokers they got going. Once you walk up and see the smoking set up they have you know the bashful bandit means business. The staff are friendly and service is fast. They got a good bar if you want to eat there but you can order buy the pound if you are having a party elsewhere. Loving this new bbq spot in town I'll be back whenever I need a brisket fix.

Tried this place on recommendation of our kids. Pulled in and guess what, they were there! I had the sausage plate with potato salad and beens. Both were a solid 4. The sausage however was a 5! Velvet had the brisket sandwich. She said biscuit was a 4 but there was nothing on the sandwich but brisket. Could have used coleslaw. I was disappointed that they didn't have Ribs. Counter service. Nice patio.

Straight up 5 Stars. This place rocks and is clearly the best pit it Tucson. This was my first time at The Bandit on a Thursday about lunchtime. My order was the two meat special with sides and a ice tea. I went with the standard Brisket, sausage, potato salad, coleslaw, and the pickled vegetables. Thinking if they got Brisket right everything else should fall in line. The pitmaster is solid. The Brisket was a 9 out of 10 and the jalapeno sausage was 8 out of 10. Nice bark and smoke ring on the brisket and I am sure it was the morning smoke as it was juicy. BBQ sauces were ok, could be better but I really don't use this on brisket. I did question why they don't have a thick slice of bread to go with the plate.

It was a nice surprise coming here as it just reopened late last year to include delicious BBQ. We were greeted at the front by the friendly meat server guy who was super nice and friendly. He even asked for my name which makes the interaction more friendly. Then you move on to the sides serving guy then pay. There is plenty of seating here with a large outdoor covered area and some uncovered along with air conditioned inside seating. We chose to eat inside to avoid and pesky flies or bees outside and to enjoy the AC. We met the owner Toby who was walking around checking on customers. We chatted with him as he shared the history of this former biker bar and currently BBQ restaurant with a bar. Toby was a very nice guy who really cares about his business and he's done a good job here. My daughter and I had a chopped brisket sandwich along with pork ribs and some sides that included beans and mac n cheese. All were very tasty and the meat on the ribs practically fell off the bones. The meals were filling for us and we even brought a bit home. There was a longer line forming at the front as we ate so this place seems very popular. I like the food and service so we will return one day.

After a disappointing encounter with the Smoking Butt BBQ, we decided to give the Bashful Bandit a chance and we are super glad we did! The meats were top-notch, the sauces were excellent, and the staff was the most friendly of all. And they have this little homemade dessert called the smoked Crack pie. It's a chocolate cookie crust with a custard that they smoke on the grill. It's addicting like crack (I would imagine anyway). Great job Bashful Bandit!!

We were excited to check out the new Bashful Bandit BBQ restaurant since we like BBQ, the place is within walking distance of our house, and has a full bar. When we finally went, we were not disappointed. The food was tasty, the service was very friendly, the drinks were good and reasonably priced, the place was not too crowded, and we really enjoyed our dinner. There were several different styles of BBQ sauces to try. There were many gluten-free options for me. They have a really nice patio outside for when the weather is nice; there is even a Tornado foosball table if you're into that sort of thing. We recommend the place and will definitely go again.

I was looking for some good BBQ to take to the airport to eat before my flight out of Tuscon. I was not disappointed with the Bashful Bandit. The excellent service started right as I walked up. The guy at the smoker welcomed me in. The staff was super friendly and helpful. I got it to go, but the restaurant had a very cool vibe inside and out. As it should be, the food was the star! I got the chili rellano sausage and green chili pork. Both had amazing southwest flavor that needed no sauce! (which was good since I forgot to get some) The crunch salad(slaw) was really good. The potato salad was fine but nothing special. Overall this was some really good BBQ in Tuscon.

I came here for the first time since the bar shut down, the decor and patio are outstanding. The brisket is very good and not a fatty mess. The sauces are good but not my favorite. The service is completely over the counter like a cafeteria, no table service or cleanup. You have to clean up after yourself. I will likely return.

We went to the BBQ Joint for lunch. My favorite BBQ is Texas BBQ. Since I usually rate a BBQ by their brisket I ordered that with two sides (beans and Mac&Cheese). They offer three different sauces. I had the original and my friend tried all three with his pulled pork. When you enter, the hostess walks you through the menu. They have a wide variety of different meats and sides options (no ff). You then go to the counter and place your order, first the meat option, then you order your sides and soft drink (full bar for those who need a little more of a libration. Next is the sauce bar. You can have as much as you want or any of the different types. Then you can either sit inside or outside. Because of the wind, we sat inside. It was around noon when we got there and the customers filled the patio and half of the inside tables. The brisket was very delicious with just the right amount of a smoke ring. The pulled pork was nice and tender with a great flavor. The hostess made the rounds to see if everything was alright. The staff was very friendly and knew what they were doing. It took less then five minutes from waking in and sitting down to eat even with the full house. At first, I thought the prices looked high for lunch ($50.00 for the two of us), but when we got our lunch there was enough for two meals. We both took home a doggy bag. So that worked out to $12.50 per meal that is lower then some of the fast food places. I like to have French fries with my BBQ but they were not offered. Maybe they didn't want the mess of a deep fryer. Because of this, I gave them 4 stars (it would have been 4 1/2 stars but didn't allow that half a star. Everything was very good and they kept the ambience of the prior bar. Looked like an old time BBQ Joint. They also sell the meats and sides for take out. I would eat here again and if the wind isn't blowing in the wrong direction I would sit outside and watch the guys working the pit. If you like Texas style BBQ, you can't go wrong with this place.

Yummmmmm! Tasty BBQ! My partner and I shared the Bashful Tray which came with 1/2lb brisket and 1/2lb our meat of choice. Plus 3 sides, a large homemade pickle, and crack pie $45. My husband added a locally made tortilla for $1. We didn't go in starving, but it was plenty for two of us to share. Our friends also shared a Bashful tray between the two of them. We really enjoyed the meats. The fatty brisket was tender and the flavor was great, with a great crust. The ribs was our second meat choice, they were good too, but brisket stole the show. Our friends added a sausage to their tray and shared a bite, also super good and flavorful..I think we'd add a sausage to our tray next time. Variety of sauces and each of us found something we enjoyed between the molé, sweet BBQ, original, vinegar, chiltepin, etc... As others have mentioned, the sides are missing something. The beans were oddly flavored to us, took a few bites and didn't finish them. The Sunflower salad was fine. The Mac and cheese was the best side in our opinion. The crack pie was also good, reminded me of a chess custard pie. The vibe of the place is great, beautiful smokers next to a large covered patio. Didn't notice if they have fans and misters for summer time. The inside is smaller, but still plenty of seat yourself tables and an indoor bar. Neat how they kept some of the old Bashful Bandit nostalgia in the decor. Staff was very friendly and eager to help!

I came here on a Saturday evening. I did the two meat plate With brisket and ribs. My two sides I did were macaroni and cheese and potato salad. They had a special where you can add on a sausage link for two dollars, So I did that as well. The macaroni and cheese Was very bland. The potato salad had entirely too much dill in it and too much celery, it overpowered the dish in my opinion. Temperature wise, none of the meats were as hot as I would have liked. The sausage has cheese in it and was not cooked enough for me and I ended up spitting it out in a napkin. The brisket was OK. The ribs were tender. The staff was very nice and they did ask me if I enjoyed it, I was honest and said that it was not for me. They have indoor and outdoor seating and a bar.

I was staying in the area for a few days. Drove by this place a couple of times and decided to try them out. They have a great parking area in the back. I love how the structure is set up. The business is facing the back towards the parking lot. I ordered their green chili pull pork sandwich with coleslaw and their homemade tortillas. Loved their sandwich and the tortillas. Their coleslaw was ok. Overall, I really enjoyed my visit, and hopefully comeback for another visit.

More like 4.5 stars. My 3rd time in and I was finally able to get an order of brisket and sausage. The service and place were the same as the other times. Cool place and friendly staff. So th bend test is when you place a slice of brisket on your finger and it bends, but doesn't fall apart with it's own weight. The chile relleno sausage is great. Nice grind of pork and flavors. This place is great.

Since opening earlier this year, we've heard nothing but great things about Bashful Bandit so wanted to check it out ourselves. My brother and I have pretty high standards for barbecue so we were hesitantly excited. By the time you reach the front entrance, you will already be immersed in the sights, sounds, and smells of delicately smoked meats. We both got two meat plates that allowed us to try a couple of their protein options with two sides. I got smoked chicken, brisket, Mac-n-Cheese, and Borracho Beans. The meat was absolutely delicious. Beautifully cooked, simply seasoned, fall apart tender, and kissed perfectly with smoke. Although the beans were a touch unusual, the creamy Mac-n-Cheese complimented succulent meats very well and the bites of those together were the best of the meal. The staff was playful and kind and we were fortunate enough to meet the owner, who was also very welcoming. A touch pricey but well worth it if you're also a fan of well smoked barbecue!

We're so excited that Bandit BBQ is finally open! We've been eagerly anticipating this for a while. Fun to see the huge smokers onsite and they have a great outdoor patio. The food is amazing and the service is kind and helpful. Love how they kept some of the dive bar feel and nods to the biker bar, like some of the old wallpaper/ paint, motorcycle gas tanks over the bar... but reimagined the space to make it feel new and like their shirts say "less stabby." We came for their soft opening and ordered the Bashful tray with 1/4 pound of brisket and 1/2 a chicken with Mac n cheese, beans and dill potatoes salad. Love how they slice your meat to order so it's nice and juicy and not dried out from sitting under a heat lamp. The brisket was super tender and the chicken was great. Love the multiple house made bbq sauces, the mole was my favorite. The sides were on point as well. The dill in the potato salad made it taste fresh and light, the boracho beans are so much better than baked beans and who doesn't love Mac n cheese. If you like bbq and want to support a local business you need to check out Bandit bbq.

This place never lets you down with its perfectly cooked meats. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Jackfruit is available for non-meat eaters. People seem to like it.

Oh M Gee!! This place. Soooo good. It is not what you would expect but the BBQ IS LEGIT. Green chile pulled pork is just melt in your mouth delicious. The ribs fall off the bone. If that wasn't convincing enough then try the jackfruit vegetarian BBQ. The spice is perfect. And you will see Toby the owner walking around checking in on everyone. This place opened Wednesday and has had a line out the door since. They run out of meat if you come to late! You can preorder on the website which I would recommend if you are a big party. There is bountiful outdoor seating and it is in a wonderful central location. We came straight down speedway after a game at the UOFA. Yummy spirits and totally a Tucson vibe with delicious Texas BBQ. I almost forgot the sides and the BBQ sauce....four choices and one of them is a take on Mole' All I can say is you will not regret this decision. ENJOY!

Finally got to try this place and it was so yummy. I think this may be the best barbecue I've had in Tucson. I brought my dad here for his birthday and our group wanted to try a little bit of everything so we ordered the Bandit Tray which feeds about 5-6 people... we took home leftovers, it was definitely more than enough for our group of 5. They were unfortunately out of the jackfruit and chicken so we ordered extra brisket. The brisket was so juicy and tender, I recommend getting a mix of the lean and fatty brisket both were delicious. The smoked sausages were super flavorful. The ribs fell right off the bone. I didn't get to try the green chili pulled pork but my dad said his favorite out of the meats were the pulled pork and the brisket. The sides were all very good as well. The Bandit tray comes with 2 sides, we picked the Mac and cheese and Borracho beans. I also had to try the sunflower crunch salad and the potato salad, both also hit. There was not one thing that we got that we didn't enjoy. I noticed someone with tortillas I think I will get some with my meal next time I'm here. The service was also awesome, everyone was very friendly and helpful. We will definitely be back to enjoy some live music one of these days. Excited to try the jackfruit on our next visit.

Bashful Bandit Barbecue is a great addition to Tucson's food scene. They cook their meats Central Texas style over an all wood fire, however their menu has an Arizona twist. As I walked in, Jesse took the time to explain each of their items and helped me pick some of the best options. Their whole team was kind and helpful. The menu features Green Chile Pulled Pork and Chile Relleno sausage and you can top your food with their Chiltepin and Mole barbecue sauces in addition to their original sauce, I appreciated the way they're able to expand beyond traditional barbecue. Our favorite items were the pork, brisket, and Mac & Cheese. They also have Jackfruit available! In addition to preserving the original Bashful Bandit bar and building, they've added a huge covered patio for outdoor dining where you can watch the pit masters at work. I have a feeling this will soon be a very popular spot.

Great place to feed your barbecue cravings. The meats are well prepared and flavorful. As you walk in the you can smell the mesquite wood burning. The service is great and they have a full bar with liquor and several local brews to choose from. This is definitely a great place to drink, eat, and hangout with friends. Cheers!

Holy smokes! This place was AMAZING! The brisket was phenomenal and the ribs were quite possibly the best I've ever had. Between the three of us we tried all the sides and they were all great. I think the price is on point for the amount of food we all received. The restaurant was really nice and clean. The best part was how helpful the staff was! All smiles and explained everything perfectly. Thanks for a great lunch today!

I kept seeing posts on Instagram about this place and couldn't wait to try it out. I love the set up, plenty of seating inside and on the patio. The weather was great so the patio was packed. We got the 2 meat plate to share with brisket and green chile pulled pork with sunflower crunch salad and dill potato salad. The sides left a lot to be desired, but the meats were super tasty. I wish you could order by the 1/2 pound in order to try a few options. At a BBQ place I prefer to be able to order a la carte instead of a plate with multiple sides. The bbq sauces were just ok. We got the crack pie for dessert which is a chocolate chip cookie with custard filling. Too sweet for my taste and we couldn't figure out what the custard was made out of. It tasted like and had the consistency of the gooey part of pecan pie. I'd return for their delicious smoked meat!

I'm a sucker for BBQ, and this did not disappoint! Excellent quality, the potato salad was delicious especially if you like dill, don't listen to the reviews about it being too dilly, it was delicious. The prickly pear ice tea was a nice touch as well. The service was friendly, and I loved seeing the smokers rolling outside upon arriving. And don't leave without trying their crack pie! Amazing!

We tried a variety of meats and side dishes, the best we have ever had!! The service was amazing!!

Awesome food and great service! The BBQ here is fantastic, tender, and juicy. Highly recommend coming here if you are a fan of BBQ.

This place KILLS THE BBQ GAME. The great food in addition to the awesome location and beautiful patio (where you can watch them working away smoking the food) allows for the full experience. Inside they have a beautifully redone full bar, where you can walk up for service after you get your food (or oder beer in the main line). Everything was fast and delicious. The only thing I was disappointed by was the pickles. While they looked promising, the extra two (which cost me $8) were honestly a little flavorless- no punch packed in em. Even with that, this place is still a five star new Tucson addition and I can't wait to go back!

Some of the best barbecue I've ever had right here in Tucson! Staff were friendly and knowledgeable about the menu, even let us taste a couple of things. Great atmosphere as well.

Great barbecue in a cute place. We had the moist brisket, Mac and cheese, dill potato salad, and the crack pie. All was delicious. Service was prompt and friendly!

The proteins are outstanding, especially the sausage. Great flavor. For me the house sauce is a treat, properly tasting of vinegar. The half-sour pickles are incredible. Oh, and the staff are delightful. There is however a problem; the sides available Just don't say barbeque except the rather average Mac&cheese. Slaw, corn, some kind of bread, and a cobbler are needed to fill out a great menu.

really digged the dog friendly patio so thats a plus! when coming in they saw me walk inside to the order here line . however they looked down and ignored me for a few minutes right after they finished ringing up someone else. i waited and eventually got attended to and ordered our food. they food was okay. we got the brisket sandwich and it tasted dry and there wasn't anything in the sandwich but the dry meat and untoasted bun. maybe it was just an off day but would not return

Its served traditional Texas style. If you haven't given this place a try you should when in Tucson. The brisket and green chile pulled pork was both great. Potato salad was good. Beans wasn't to my liking. I will be back because the BBQ was great!!

The meat is 4, 5 stars, very tasty and good BBQ. Love how they have done the place. The inside is conducive for visiting with friends. The new outdoor patio is spacious and awesome. The four or five smokers in the meat smoking area is huge. Nice vibe. This is a "go down the line" type of place where you place your order and like Panda Express or Jersey Mike's, you go down as they assemble your order telling them what sides you want, etc. I had the Bashful Tray with two meats, three sides, half sour pickle and a non-existent smoked crack pie, whatever that is. I had brisket and pork ribs. Cost me $45. My wife had the smoked chicken plate. My Yelp friends also had plates with brisket or pork ribs. His rib plate came with only three ribs. For $23 bucks, that's not much. He was still hungry at the end. Like I said, the meats were very good. I would rate it just a tad shy good of Ken's Hardwood BBQ, which is the best BBQ in Tucson in my opinion. Just shy. They were all very delicious. Why only 3 stars? First, the sides were not good. I had the Borracho Beans (eh, didn't finish), the Dill Potato Salad (also didn't finish), and the Sunflower Crunch Salad (yep, didn't finish). Just something about the flavors. Turns out that the Sunflower Crunch Salad is coleslaw. When you eat BBQ, the sides have to be good to complement the meat. It's part of the reason you have BBQ. Ken's Hardwood BBQ had great sides to go with their great meat. This was really not that good at all. And both my Yelp friends' mac and cheese was cold. OK, they're new and working out the bugs. But they were definitely underwhelmed with the mac and cheese. And I passed on it because it didn't look creamy. I like my mac and cheese on the creamy side. This was on the sticky side. One star docked. Now a word about their BBQ sauces. The "OG BBQ and Chiltepin are good. The House and Molé not so much. None of us liked those two. The flavors just didn't work, especially the molé. You have to have good sauce to go with BBQ meat. I mean BBQ is just an excuse to have BBQ sauce, right? Half a star docked. So after I was finished eating, I realized I didn't get my Smoked Cracked Pie. I inquired on this and was told they were all out and that I was given extra to compensate. Really? I wasn't told this and what, exactly, was I given "extra?" I just now figured it out writing this review and looking at the menu again--I got a whole pickle instead of a half of one! Wow. I feel so compensated LOL. I got an extra half of pickle instead of a slice of pie. Would have been better if they had told me this when I was forking out the $45 for this menu item. Maybe I could have asked for a little extra side or something (which I wouldn't finish). I'm spending $45 for a meal here, you could tell me when I'm paying that you were out of the pie. You should have 1) told me, 2) then suggest a substitute, like maybe comp my fountain drink or something. Lame. And I love pickles, but I only took three bites of this one. I didn't like it. Half a star docked. I wish I had read the menu more carefully. I got the $45 tray because I wanted to try two meats. If you get the plate for $17 - $23, for $$25 you can get double meat. I should have done that and save me a wad of money. Especially since they were out of the pie. Which I wasn't old. So my final verdict is definitely try it out. Nice vibe at the restaurant. The meats are very good. Two of the sauces are good. You might be different than I am and like their sides. You might be able to try this "Smoked Crack Pie." The people are friendly. What they have is someone who knows how to smoke meats. They need a chef to create edible sides. I'll just be sticking to Ken's. 5* = A top favorite. Mind-blowing good. I will definitely return and I will go out of my way to go here. Worth every dime of my money. 4* = Outstanding. Tucson-top-tier. Some elements not quite as good as it gets, but it still is worthy of my regular business. 3* = Good experience. I might do repeat business if it is convenient, the only option, the only one in its category, or on a whim, but would not be among the first thing to come to mind. Would definitely recommend you trying it to get your own take on it. 2* = Not so good. Would not recommend at all. Waste of money. 1* = How are they still in business? Stay away at all costs!