Little Miss BBQ-University

Barbecue restaurant · Tovrea

Little Miss BBQ-University

Barbecue restaurant · Tovrea

4301 E University Dr, Phoenix, AZ 85034

Highlights

This functional eatery with a retro vibe specializes in Central Texas–style BBQ & traditional sides.

4301 E University Dr, Phoenix, AZ 85034 Get directions

littlemissbbq.com

@littlemissbbq

@eater

"Scott Holmes’s indoor-outdoor barbecue joint by the airport stars Central Texas-style meats — simple but sublime — cooked low and slow on giant offset smokers Holmes designed himself. Naturally, beef is king here, whether it’s fatty brisket, short rib, or pastrami, but everything is top-notch, including house-made sausage links, creamy mac and cheese, and smoked pecan pie. The larger satellite location on Seventh Street features an enclosed patio." - Mcconnell Quinn, Chris Malloy, Nikki Buchanan

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@infatuation

"Head to the original University location of this Texas-style barbecue spot for some of the best pork ribs, sausage links, and brisket in Phoenix. Sure, you’ll likely have to stand in line before calling dibs on one of the outdoor picnic tables, but that’ll give you some time to sort out your game plan: sandwich or a plate? Pulled pork or ribs? When they’re on the menu, get the oversized beef ribs and try the pastrami brisket. And whatever you do, don’t skip the sides—we love the jalapeño cheddar grits, red potato salad, and ranch-style beans. " - lauren topor

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@cntraveler

"In a tiny lot by the airport, several giant smokers welded from old propane tanks emit the smells of woodsmoke. Even in the summer heat, a line of an hour-plus stretches, unless you’ve arrived at least 20 minutes before the 11:00 a.m. opening time. Laidback music plays, some people wait at picnic tables, watching pit masters (who have been on the clock since not long after midnight) check on papered brisket—all signs scream that you’ve entered an intense temple of barbecue. Scott Holmes serves barbecue in the Central Texas style: beef-centric, meat seasoned minimally and plated without sauce. If you opt for brisket, be sure to request fatty slices, which dissolve in your mouth. The real secret, though, is that there are two menu items superior to even Holmes’ 10/10 brisket. First, pastrami, a Thursday special with a cult local following. Second, a Flinstonian beef short rib offered most Fridays and Saturdays. To round out your tray with other meats and taste what else Holmes can do, consider a juicy smoked turkey breast, flavor-brimming sausage made from meat trimmings, and jalapeno cheddar grits." - Lizbeth Scordo, Chris Malloy

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@eater

"There is nothing small about the barbecue options at Little Miss BBQ. Sandwiches start at $10 and come with a selection of sides. Most love the combo of jalapeno and grits, and, if you’re into Texas-style barbecue, don’t skip the brisket either. Guests have the option to eat at picnic tables and enjoy the outdoors." - Rudri Patel

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sigray2734

Google

1/4/25: Short version - small parking lot, limited seating inside (maybe a dozen people max), extra seating outside, friendly staff, mighty fine BBQ. Longer version - my sister had a co-worker bring Little Miss BBQ in for one of the recent holidays and she raved about it. We finally decided to check the place out. I'm not gonna lie, every time I drove by over the years it always looked like it closed and what would be a dive bar, so to speak. I don't like small parking lots and LM's is small, but we braved it anyway. Good thing, too, because it was very good grub. Seriously, the seating inside is very limited (I think my dozen comment earlier is being generous). I did not take a close look at the outside seating but what I saw were picnic benches; no idea if there are heat lamps or misters. A line began to form after we arrived, and there appeared to be quite a few to go orders going out. I can see why the sign posting their hours says "or until sold out". Something tells me that happens fairly often ... because they are that good. For the money, you receive a generous amount of meat, a hefty serving of the side (we had potato salad, slaw, and beans between the two of us). I cannot say the $7 mini pecan pie was worth that price, and $2+ for a can of Coke is a bit steep, too. The main food, though, that is totally worth it. We both agree Little Miss BBQ is a place to return, although likely their other location. Hopefully it has better parking.

Binit Banerjee

Google

We stopped here to get some lunch before our flight. The place was pretty good. We got some brisket with beans and potato salad. The brisket was very good, flavourful, soft and paired well with the house sauce. We sat indoors and they also had nice outdoor seating. Parking was easy and in the lot.

Marco Griffo

Google

Little Miss BBQ is a must-visit! The food was absolutely incredible—I’ve never had meat so flavorful and perfectly cooked. Every bite was a treat! The team is fantastic too—friendly, welcoming, and clearly passionate about what they do. It’s an unforgettable experience, and I can’t wait to go back for more. Highly recommend!

Mark D

Google

Best BBQ west of Texas HANDS DOWN. My personal favorite is the brisket with a jalapeno sausage, grits and potato salad. Good luck trying to get back in time from your lunch break cause they only have one cutter. My cousin said the smoked pecan pie is ok. She's wrong, but I respect her opinion.

Virgil B

Google

This is one of the best bbq in town. If you get brisket, ask for the fatty one, has more flavor. The grits and the slaw were up there too. Top it off with some banana bread pudding and if you're from the south this is the closest that you'll feel at home out here.

Frank Fazzalari

Google

Little Miss BBQ on University totally delivered. From the start, the vibe was friendly and welcoming—shoutout to Jordan for taking the time to answer our questions with a smile. The brisket? Unreal. Perfectly trimmed and loaded with smoky, juicy flavor. The spare ribs were tender and packed with goodness, and the pulled pork was clean, flavorful, and just plain satisfying. The jalapeño cheddar sausage? Boom—tons of flavor with just the right amount of heat. What’s really cool is that nothing comes sauced—you get to taste the meat in all its glory and decide if you even want to add sauce (spoiler: I didn’t touch it, and that’s a first for me!). Pro tip: Skip ordering by weight and go for slices or portions—like 2 brisket slices and 2 ribs. It’s perfect for sharing and sampling. Oh, and they’re giving the place a facelift in January 2025, so it’s only going to get better. Little Miss BBQ, you crushed it! 🐷🔥 Saluti

Michael Hayes

Google

What are my usual stops when I'm in Phoenix for work is Little Miss BBQ on University. A few years ago I found this place during a search on Google and have returned every year. Generally I get the pulled pork platter with two sides. This time I had beans and potato salad. I also got the cucumbers, jalapenos, onions and slice of white bread. The flavor of the meat is always good, and their sauces (regular, spicy and mustard) are quite tasty. I mixed the regular and spicy to get a nice blend. The beans were great. The potato salad was OK. The potatoes were cut into much smaller chunks, which gave a much different texture to them. I'm just used to larger chunks of potato, and there was nothing wrong with the salad other than that personal preference.

Ryan Roush

Google

If you want real BBQ this is the gem in the desert. Visited while vacationing with family in the PHX area and was very impressed with this heavy weight joint. Been to Dallas and KC in the last month and their Beef & Cheddar sausages were far better. Brisket was at the same quality as what you can get in TX. Ribs were a bit underdone, but the pit master owned it. I’ll be visited every time I’m in town. Come on Thursdays and try the best Pastrami you’ve ever had.