Jellybean and Julia's BBQ

Forgot to include that service at the bar is far better than at the tables. The live music was great. Original post: Hubs had the meat sweats sandwich and he really enjoyed that. We didn't really care for the flavor of the beans. I had the prime rib sandwich Philly style. The meat, cheese and veggies on the sandwich were tasty. I didn't like the roll nor the smokey au jus. We both loved the fries and secret menu item of fried mushrooms. They were delicious. To finish with the best menu item in our opinion, we each had a banana pudding and another one to go!

This is probably one of the best barbecue places. I've been to from in the state. So far the food is amazing. It's way better than what I have by my house. I will definitely be back. Wasn't dried out like some places.

Came here with my wife and 21 month old son. We were happy to find a place that is dedicated to being seed oil free and uses local flour for their buns. The service was attentive, fast, and friendly. Some of the best chicken wings I've ever had! Our son loved it!

I was able to seat my self & enjoyed my chopped brisket sandwich with some cheesy hash browns and non alcoholic ginger beer it was delicious 10/10 Highly recommend for my 1st time ever going there the service was great. I was greeted at my table very quickly with a nice lady who helped me understand there spice levels of there house made barbecue sauce. They have three different kinds. I tried 2 both were exceptional!!! They do have music playing at a decent level wasn't a problem for me.

Had a great experience for my first in person visit. Brisket was delicious, definitely try a few extra sauces. Ribs….. 👌, and the Mac n cheese was absolutely amazing! Service was great, everyone was kind and engaging. Gotta bring friends or family who love good food.

Went here on Thursday, night 70s and 80s. Bar bingo was fun and free. The problem here is the food not good. I had the heart attack barely ate half of it. was so greezy the pulled Pork. So dry taste horrible they were moderately busy I'm assuming that was the delay in service took about a 1/2 an hour to get tacos and a sandwich. We really wanted to love this place. But the food is the turn off

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I’ve been a fan of Jellybean & Julia’s for years — from their old spot to the new location. Every time I come, the food and service remind me why I keep coming back. Tonight I had the smoked prime rib, and it was absolutely out of this world. Perfectly cooked, packed with flavor, and easily one of the best prime ribs I’ve ever had anywhere. If you haven’t tried this place yet, do yourself a favor and go. Whether you’ve been coming here forever or it’s your first time, you’re in for something special.

Tried the Texafornia burrito. I was not disappointed. This thing is huge. The smokey brisket was amazing. The in-house made sauce is great! Also ordered a rum and coke and thought it was a double 🤙Very friendly staff! I will be returning!

Great food, really! Wonderful service too. Live music too, what more could you ask for?

One thing I've learned about BBQ is that each place has its fanatics and that is certainly true about this spot. Some of the five star reviews are obviously written by fans, friends, or people who have never eaten anywhere else (sarcastic humor there) The new location is larger than the previous one, but with the addition of a bar it just means people are taking up tables and parking spots for the sake of drinking - this can make finding a table around meal time difficult. Overall the meats are good and moist. What irks me about this barbecue spot is that you have to request sauce and they only bring a small plastic cup of one type - the server denied my request to try one of each. They only have 3 sauces here, so I don't understand why they are prudes about it. I prefer places where the sauce is in bottles on the table and you can smother your meat to your heart's content. With the above comment about the bar, the servers are busy running beers so if you need more sauce or the silverware they previously forgot, it takes a while to get noticed over the Shiner Bock drinkers. The Tater Tot Hot Dish is a mysterious scoop of deliciousness that looks nothing like any "hot dish" I've ever seen before. Another unique menu item are the cornbread fritters with jalapeño jelly. They are very good and the blend of sweet and hot was an unexpected palate pleaser. We'll certainly be back... but we're not rushing back.

Have to say, I wasn't a fan. Came here for father's day.. had a bit of a wait which was to be expected. When we were finally sat, I was thuroughally disappointed. For all thy hype this place has been getting, I expected so much more. It feels like it was just thrown together with whatever discarded furniture Denny's left behind when they did their remodels. I was also afraid for when they might decide to do live music.. the stage was very janky looking and the thought of being sat at one of the tables right in front of it and the state of my ear drums afterword.. but I digress.. Wanted to try the meats that everyone talks so highly of, so I got a half pound of the brisket as did my friend next to me. The others got the pork. The friend next to me was up visiting from TX and knows her BBQ.. this wasn't it. The brisket was bland and dry. The pulled pork was better than the brisket but still didn't help me to understand why people go so nuts over this place. The hashbrowns were good but forgetable, and the cornbread ball thing was dry. I'll give this place another try just in case this was a one-off, and maybe this time I'll get some clean silverware?

My last time here was probably my last time here. The brisket was the driest brisket I've ever had. In the pictures, you can see that the tissue between the meat fibers has been completely cooked away. The pulled pork was equally dry. The jalapeno sausage and potato casserole were great. The sauce on the side was served ice cold, which was unappetizing. I ordered a Lone Star and the can was filthy. There was a flake of something on the tab that looked like it had fallen out of someone's nose. While we tried to flag down the waitress for a glass, we were completely ignored and had to go to the bar ourselves for a glass. We somehow ended up in the waitress's blind spot and it took quite a long time to get our check and get out.

Stopped in for dinner with a friend and her family since we were in the area and we were all really happy with the decision to do so, the staff were friendly and the food was fantastic! My friend and I both got a cocktail and I absolutely loved mine- it had cranberry and ginger and was very tasty. I got the pulled pork nachos, her kids got the boneless wings and a cheeseburger and both loved what they got too. Can't remember what she got to eat but we all left happy! It's not in my area but definitely plan to go back when possible.

Take out process is terrible. I ordered online and it said it would be an hour wait. I show up 5 minutes before my order is supposed to be ready. I went to the bar and waited 5 minutes while the bar tender completely ignored me even though my order was sitting there ready to go. I finally had to ask another server for help and they were visibly annoyed that I asked. I finally got my food and went home. The food was completely cold. It had obviously been sitting at the bar ready to go way earlier than my pickup time. I think this place has good food from what I could tell, but I'd be reluctant to order takeout again, which basically means I won't be eating there again as it's not really my vibe inside.

Oh my gosh, we love this place!! They have the best macaroni and cheese I've ever had at a restaurant, and it's served with brisket!! It's a huge portion and the next time I'm there I'll be ordering it as my entree (not the app it was listed as!). The brisket matches were delicious, a lil spicy and wonderfully cheesy! The smoked Gouda cherry jam burger was also a hit with plenty of flavor! The service was very fast, the flavored iced teas were great (I did ask for a lil more of the flavored syrup, and it was perfect!), and the bathroom was clean. I'd 1000% recommend this place to others since it's mine and my fiancés fav BBQ joint ever (and we've been to KC and TN for BBQ!). Oh, and did I mention they don't use seed oils? This place is definitely striving for healthy eating out perfection!

We had to dine-in one more time in the Anoka location before they closed on Feb 25th and moved to Coon Rapids. Sis and I were looking for a "fish fry" for Friday dinner, and I happened to stumble across their social media post of their fish n chips special. So 2 birds, 1 stone. We haven't been back since they expanded the dining room, and it was a nice improvement. More tables, more space between tables, same ambiance. Sis got the fish special. Fish was flaky, falling apart once the batter was cut through. Came with tartar sauce and coleslaw. Sis said they both had chipolte smokiness. She was not a fan; she prefers standard tartar sauce and zippy slaw. I saw on their chalkboard menu at the front door that they had a Shrimp Po Boy. I liked the bread it came on, mix of chewy and toasted. Most of the flavor came from the remoulade sauce. Coleslaw added a crunch against the soft shrimp. Came with a side of French fries (I added salt) and pickled red onions and yummy hamburger pickle chips. The pickles were my favorite part. So glad they weren't bread n butter or zesty. Staff was friendly and worked together as a team. Between 2 waitresses, everything was ordered, delivered, and bill paid with ease.

We went recently to Jellybean and Julia's because we thought they had nachos for a couple dollars off during happy hour. We were pleasantly surprised: several taco dishes and a boneless wings basket were half price! The food was amazing--clearly homemade, including the tortilla chips that came with the tacos. The service was exceptional--we saw the bartender pouring a dark beer and asked what it was. He brought us samples! Great experience all around--we'll go again.

I was really excited about this place! I had actually ordered from the Mediterranean spot across the street, but my teammate wanted to try this place and after seeing someone go after the brisket quesadilla, I had to order some more (don't judge lol). I got a half pound of brisket and the Mac and cheese and exercised extreeeme control on the 15 min ride home. the good news is it was flavorful and tender! the bad news was there was so much white uncooked fat it made me stop eating. really wanted to be a fan but was left disappointed.

Stopped in for lunch during their soft opening after months of waiting on the smoker. The place was packed and for good reason. The food was excellent. We tried the brisket, pulled pork sandwich, hash brown hotdish, Mac and cheese and the meals crowning touch the corn bread fritters with jalapeño jam! I seriously could have ordered a half dozen of them and have been perfectly content with that as my meal. The hash brown hotdish was also exceedingly good. I typically measure a barbecue joint by there beef brisket and this was not really my style. It's the fattier stringier brisket where I like my brisket lean and looking more like a deli slice of roast beef. Flavor was good though and they have some tasty bbq sauce offerings. Definitely worth checking out if you enjoy good barbecue and those comfort sides.

New location! Now located along Coon Rapids Boulevard. Now in a stand-alone building, plenty of parking available. Lots of interesting tap brewskis (as well as Golden Lite & Coors Light). The Brisket is perfection here!

This is a quaint little place with interesting things hanging all over the wall. Nice, casual vibe. My two favorite barbecue items are pork ribs and brisket. Sadly, for me, they were out of ribs. We must've just missed them because I saw somebody at a nearby table was eating some. It seems like this is a common thing at smaller barbecue places. The customer shouldn't have to suffer for poor planning... I decided on the "Meat Sweats Sandwich" which is brisket, pulled pork, housemaid hot link, bacon jam, cheddar cheese. They were also out of hot link, so I got to experience a modified version of the sandwich. Honestly, it wasn't that great, it was too salty and the brisket was tough. It seem to be mostly the outside crust of the brisket. For $22, I had higher expectations. The coleslaw side dish was pretty generic and tasted as if it had been sitting in the refrigerator for a while. The pulled pork was pretty good, but the highlight was the hash brown hot dish, which was very good. I would maybe give this place another try if I lived in town, but it wouldn't be high on my list.

I got the brisket sandwich. It was served with the apple bourbon sauce which was cold. Sandwich was delicious, anyway and it stayed hot. The mac and cheez was the squiggly kind which can stick to each other. It was good but had a strange taste. My favorite was the beans and I found one big butter bean amongst black, kidney and chili beans, plus the pork. I asked for a spoon cause I didn't want to miss one drop of sauce. I got 2 corn fritters, cause I'm a fiend, the jalapeno sauce worked quite well for something that I usually put maple syrup on. The banana pudding looked tempting, maybe next time. Amy was so helpful to this first timer from St. Paul. She got a kick out of me bringing my own bib.

Fantastic food and great service! I'll be back! I highly recommend the smoked Gouda cherry jam burger!

Stopped here for lunch on a friend's recommendation. $57.85 plus tip (decent service) purchased a dozen chicken wings, a sampler platter of ribs (1/3rd of rack), sliced brisket and pulled pork (quarter pound each, three cornbread fritters glazed with jalapeno jam, and two refillable died soft drinks. While not smoked, the deep fried wings with their light rub were excellent-- very, very moist. The ribs had a tasty rub, and hit the sweet spot-- a good bite that separated cleanly from the bone. Nothing mushy here. The brisket had the classic central Texas flavoring, good smoke, and fell apart to the touch of a fork. The pork, in contrast, had an odd flavor that other reviewers have remarked upon. We couldn't place it, despite having eaten this dish at close to 400 BBQ restaurants nationwide. It responded well to two of the three sauces on the table, all of which are worth a try. Finally, the corn fritters are simply outstanding. Whatever else you order here, you want to sample these. We wouldn't describe this as "destination 'cue," but if you are in the neighborhood and ready for a meal, we do recommend that you give it a try.

Stopped in for a burger at the new location and it was as good as I remember! The day I stopped was the soft open and the place still working out some kinks getting back open. I'll be back soon to see a show on the new stage and some Texas bbq when the smoker arrives for sure!

Tried this place tonight, as I had a craving for BBQ. Had to see how it compared to Texas. I had the ribs and brisket. Both of them were tender and very tasteful. I could not for the life of me figure out what all was in the tub put on them prior to cooking but, it was great. Their habanero BBQ sauce was great especially mixed with their normal BBQ source. Definitely worth a stop in to try it out.

New to the area and this is now my go-to place! Great service & food! Fun roadhouse atmosphere

The food was so amazing! Very clean restaurant and amazing service! Our server was mike and he was AMAZING!!!! Definitely coming back soon ;)

Last night was our first night here. We sat at the bar and the bartenders were so amazing ! Attentive and gave us recommendations with the yummy food menu! Plus we got samples from their drink menu! We will be back! Don't wait any longer ---check this place out!

Nashville hot chicken was so hot it burned my mouth - and I'm not sensitive to hot foods. They ran out of real silverware - had to eat with flimsey plastic fork. Never asked if we wanted a second drink. Fourth time we have been here - first three times were great. Stop seating people if you can't serve them.

Food is amazing. Legit BBQ. We had the brisket and it was fabulous. Beans were great too. I'm not sue there's better BBQ in the state of MN? Patio was nice except being blown over by second hand smoke. If you don't like smoking, sit indoors.

Did not enjoy the spicy beans or the dry ribs-not a very friendly place there are better rib places around

Food tasted beyond my expectations. Great flavors and bold. My waitress was amazing and cheerful which is hard to come by these days!! Very laid back environment. My only complaint is that they are closed on Sundays lmao!!! Amazing gem of a place.

Excellent BBQ - 5 stars! It's been a long time since I've been to Jelly Bean and Julia's. Actually, I looked it up and it's been 7 years! Where does the time go? But I stopped in this afternoon after a sucky doctor's appointment. I treated myself and I grabbed 2 pounds of beef brisket. It was very good - savory, moist, flavorful, and tender. I'm bumping them up for 5 stars. LOW CARB: It's easy to eat low carb at JBJ. You can order all of the meats a la carte by weight - cool! They don't force you to order plant based sides. In my opinion, the food here is just as good (or possibly better) than "Q Fanatic", located a short drive away in Champlin. And it definitely beats the pants off of the meat choices at "Famous Dave's On Que" in Coon Rapids. JBJ looks a LOT different than 7 years ago. They're definitely bigger. Apparently, they busted out a wall and took over the old spot where the trophy shop used to be. I also noticed they now offer many of their own in-house sauces and spices. Finally, it's decorated and personalized in a cool, down home, unique way. It definitely has a BBQ joint type of vibe. Nice! This restaurant should definitely be on your list if you're in the area. Thumbs up! -Maxx

The first thing you will notice about this place is that it is right next to Krown Bakery. If you stop into this BBQ joint early enough, pop over to Krown for dessert!! Absolutely an adorable and delicious cafe! Now onto Jellybean and Julia's! This is a fun BBQ joint in a strip mall! When you first go to walk in, you will notice a screen door you need to walk through to get in, love that touch! This isn't a very big restaurant but they have definitely added a lot of fun decor! It seemed like every time I looked up, I saw something new! The music was mostly old westerns and definitely added to to fun vibe here! The service was as good and everyone was friendly. The food was tasty! We tried many different items and found a lot of flavor in each item! The brisket quesadilla was really good! The pulled pork sandwich was VERY tender and just melted in your mouth. The burger and beans had Smokey and savory spices that really enhanced each item! Overall this was a tasty and cute little hole in the wall joint! Definitely worth checking out!

Came here because they DO NOT use seed oils in their cooking and preparation. I came back because everything was delicious. The BBQ, the sandwiches, and their Kombucha. Wow!! This tourist is super impressed. Thank you!! 5/5

Bar service sucks. Been twice and pretty much ignored. Last time we tried to order food and they didn't come back to us for 20 minutes. Totally ignored!!!! Left a 20 for two drinks and out

Food was excellent! I had a PB&J brisket on toasted sour dough with crunchy peanut butter and Strawberry Habanero jam. Oh man, it was so good! A little pricey, but worth every penny! The tater-tot side dish was very tasty also. Our server was very professional and friendly. Such a cozy place and they have music, too. I will be going back for more!

Great bbq and sandwiches. R Laid back vibe with good service. If it looks good to you on the menue, it will be good when it gets to the table.

We love jellybean and Julia s. A little drive but their food is very amazing. We are here for the breakfast for the first time. They all looked and tasted amazing. My husband ordered the breakfast special Strata Croque Madame. It is a savory bread pudding liked piece with hams and some micro greens with gravy. It's one of the best savory breakfast dish he had

Stopped in for lunch today in their new location on Coon Rapids Blvd. for the first time! There were three of us, and we all really loved their food. Service was so friendly and hospitable! There is plenty of seating and it's a "bar atmosphere" with both low top and high top tables. I thought it was a fun/pleasant atmosphere! Two of us had the brisket sandwich and one had the pulled pork. We all agreed it was pretty top notch BBQ! The sauces were unique and yummy, not just your average BBQ sauce! I also LOVED the fries. I'm not normally into fries that much, but these were really awesome! I'm looking forward to coming back to try more of their menu!!

Won't go back even if they get their smoker!! I need 85 characters to post....well, maybe just go accross the street to Grill & have a good meal‍

Located in an unsuspecting strip mall just outside of downtown Anoka is Jellybean and Julia's. Slightly different that your traditional "bbq joint" there is table service vs cafeteria style ordering. Honestly, I prefer it. I have heard rave reviews and they lived up to the hype. My visit was for Sunday brunch. After the outstanding service, exceptional food, and overall ambiance of the space, I absolutely cannot wait to get back to explore more of the menu. Brisket Hash: chopped brisket, diced potatoes, bell peppers & onions, topped with 2 eggs your way (I went over easy), and a house made smoked salsa verde sauce. This was AMAZING! Cheese Hash & Gravy Waffle: A massive waffle with hash browns and cheese cooked right into it, then smothered in sausage gravy and topped with two eggs. This was a FILLING and delicious!

Not impressed after a first visit. Menu sounds great but food was not good. Cheese sauce on nachos was bland. Chicken basket was 6 tiny chunks of chicken with tiny bits of fries. I hope their smoked meats will be amazing when their smoker arrives later this spring, but I won't race back. Not worth the hype local TV programs were broadcasting.

In Texas, where I lived for over a decade, I would recommend this place and likely eat there often if it was close to my home or work. I'm not sure I'd drive out of my way for it. There are lots of options that are the same caliber and I don't think this BBQ would be a threat to make it's way into the Bible of Barbecue, aka The Texas Monthly Top 50 list. But in Minnesota? It's quite possible this is the best BBQ in the state. It's definitely the best BBQ in the Twin Cities. For brisket, I think only Firebox comes close. I've tried other places that were recommended. They are not serving Texas-style brisket. Most places cut it thin and the remaining fat is hard and white. At J&J, the meat is sliced thick, falling apart, and the fat is gelatinous, as it should be. It's amazing. The ribs are the ONLY Texas-style ribs I've had in Minnesota. Most other places are serving baby backs that fall of the bones, which is more like Memphis BBQ. These ribs are dry with a perfect rub. The meat is smoky. You can sauce them, but they don't need it. The BBQ comes with white bread or tortillas, as it should. It's served with pickles, as it should be. They have a smoked sausage on the menu which you will find at every single BBQ place in Texas. As a bonus, they have interesting sides and they run specials (Frito pie, smoked pastrami), which is also pretty much expected at any of the best places in Texas. This is the real deal. As the only authentic place I've found, it's worth going out of your way to eat here. Better yet, order to-go and take home a big foil tray of smoked meat.

The name is a bit deceiving. I was expecting more of a cafe vibe but it is definitely a biker bar. Nice service. Just not what I was expecting. Not sure if I would go back. My son loved the onion at the original location but the onion we had today was just a slice Not pickled.

Ok!! Stop what your doing... don't go anywhere else!! Trust me you'll LOVE this place! The food is absolutely amazing!! The meats a sooo good and delicious and tender. I recommend the beef brisket!! I would say this ... there's absolutely nothing on the menu that's not good. I love the decor very unique! The servers are super friendly and warm. Like a best friend I haven't seen in a long time. Makes a guy definitely come back again. Small place.. BIG FLAVOR! Thanks Cory you got yourself a winner

Wow amazing food! Great buns from the local bakery. Meat cooked well. We will be back!

Best BBQ in town! You can't go wrong with anything on the menu but go for the baked beans as your side they are so flavorful!

Okay, so never mind the fact that this whole review is based on a two to three bite sized sandwich. It was life-changing!!! I attended a smokeout event and Jellybean and Julia had an amazing brisket quesadilla and a peanut butter and strawberry habanero jelly brisket sandwich!! Incredible!! I can't wait to go check out the rest of the menu!! If this was any indication it's gonna be amazing!!

Friday lunch and not terribly busy yet like many places understaffed so we waited more than normal to order. The menu is not that hard to review & decide so we patiently waited. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich with one side & my partner ordered the brisket sandwich. The brisket had too much fatty parts and turned off appetite. The side of hash brown hot dish was tasty however much oil at the bottom of the cup. Side of baked beans was satisfying. Overall a 3 star for now & will give the place a try to improve.

The food and staff are always amazing here! Haven't had a meal here I didn't like! If you like fresh and homemade food with flavorful ingredients, you have to try this place! The burgers are great, ribs are great, sides are amazing! Try to kool-Aid pickle on the side!

Great service and BBQ! Amazing ribs, will be coming back to try more of the menu. Also love the new Coon Rapids location

Have not tried there new location but was at there old place. Ribs and choices not good at all. Better ribs in the freezer at cub

I've been hearing full of times now and they never disappoint! Everything my group has ordered each time has been delicious. Don't miss the secret menu items posted in store!

Lame, overpriced, service fees, crap service. Most expensive burger I've ever ordered and it was mediocre at best. Wouldn't go back if it was free.

Favorite bbq in the area HANDS DOWN!!! Their menu is creative, fun and most importantly DELICIOUS! Staff is very friendly, efficient and knowledgeable. Environment is fun and gives an authentic vibe. Crisp edges, perfect seasoned and cooked burgers. Ever dish is full of flavor and an unique kick. The heart attack is amazing. The burrito is amazing, along with the quesadilla. Basically you can't go wrong!!' The Fritters were amazing. At first they look a little over done. But upon eating my worries melted away. They are cooked perfectly with a crispy outside Fun menu and environment. Truly one of my favorite places to eat brunch or any meal. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.