The Thumb

The Thumb is an absolute gem in Scottsdale! From the moment you pull up, the unique vintage gas station vibe immediately sets the tone — it’s got that old-school charm mixed with a warm, welcoming atmosphere that makes you feel right at home. The staff here were fantastic — super friendly, attentive, and genuinely happy to be there, which really adds to the experience. I ordered the Full Moist Brisket Stack with a side of Mac and Cheese and Potato Salad, and wow — everything was spot on. The brisket was perfectly tender and flavorful, melt-in-your-mouth good, with just the right amount of smoke. The Mac and Cheese was creamy and rich, and the Potato Salad had that perfect balance of texture and flavor. You can tell they take pride in what they serve. Their menu is huge, so it’s clear I’ve only scratched the surface. There are so many other dishes I can’t wait to try next time. Between the incredible food, friendly service, and one-of-a-kind atmosphere, The Thumb is easily one of the best BBQ spots in Arizona. Highly recommend — 5 stars all the way! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

It like a cross between Buc-ee's and Cracker Barrel the food and service was good. Everything was cooked to order. Sweet potato fries were excellent along with the ribs. I really enjoyed the Biscuits and Gravy with plenty of meat. Nice prices, will drop in again if ever back this way.

What an awesome place, growing up in louisiana im used to being able to get 93 octane fuel just about anywhere. In Arizona, that's not so easy. This place has up to 100 octane which is great as my Porsche Boxster 986 recommends using 98 octane. The food was pretty good, and the staff friendly and informative. I'll be coming back for sure.

The Thumb catering is the best! We have used them the past 2 years to help us provide the food for our parties. Victoria, the catering manager is wonderful, responsive and easy to work with. The food has always been top-notch and the pick up was on time, easy and seamless. Every staff member we have encountered on the phone and in-person has been friendly and helpful. If you want a memorable and delicious meal, I would highly recommend The Thumb for their amazing BBQ. Keep them on the top of your list for any large group or catering needs - nothing else comes close!

The atmosphere is super cute, and the service was awesome!! The food however, was not the highlight of the trip unfortunately. It’s not the worst BBQ I’ve had in Arizona by far but still underwhelming. The pulled pork, baked beans and toast were the best thing we had, but the chicken, brisket and mac and cheese were just not that great! The brisket needs more smoke flavor, and the mac was greasy with no seasoning. Again the service and staff were very delightful!

I can only vouch for this restaurant through the takeout that our friends purchased for a dinner my friend and I were invited to. There were 5 of us. They purchased 4 (2-3 meat platters), Ribs, Pulled Pork and Brisket with sides of Mayo Cole claw, Famous BBQ Baked Beans, Potato Salad and a lot of sauces. Each takeout container was presented very nicely. The portions were very big, enough for 5 people plus leftovers. The taste was very good. The meats were juicy. The smoky flavor could of been more though. The Texas Toast and all the sides were excellent along with the sauces and it was all packed up, easy for our friend to drive back home. I did ask my friend how the service was, he said it was good, but because he didn't pre-order, it was a long wait to be expected. Takeout service: good. Food: very good.

The brisket was perfect. Actually, everything I tried was amazing. Would highly recommend this spot to any and all in the Phoenix area.

If you're looking for a hidden gem in Scottsdale, The Thumb is it! Yes, it's a gas station, but don't let that fool you—this place serves barbecue that could rival the best smokehouses around. We had the 2-meat platters with pulled pork and andouille sausage, and they were phenomenal. The pulled pork was tender, smoky, and flavorful, while the sausage had just the right kick of spice. The chili was hearty and packed with flavor, perfectly complemented by the BBQ beans and creamy coleslaw on the side. The ambiance adds to the charm. Whether you sit inside or outside, you'll find a relaxed vibe that's perfect for enjoying good food. Service was friendly and efficient, making the experience even better. Gas up your car and your stomach—this spot is a must-visit. We'll definitely be back!

Best Bar B Que Brisket sandwich sandwich I've ever had. This is a MUST stopover. Excellant bar b que.

Came on a Saturday afternoon after hiking Tom's Thumb. Walked in around 2:45pm. I mention that because they oferten sell out of "moist brisket" (or fatty brisket) around 2pm. Service was very friendly, warm and fast. Ended up getting the chili (w/brisket, pork, beef) and onion rings. Everything was DELICIOUS. What a FANTASTIC spot next to gas station! Don't pass on this one. (Perfect for post-hike meals!!)

This place was such a unique experience! My dad has been wanting to try The Thumb for awhile, and we came here for lunch today to celebrate his birthday. My mom and I both got their brisket sandwich, my brother got their hangover dish, and my dad went with the Cuban. The sandwiches are served on thick, grilled Texas toast and come without sauce. There are a few stations throughout where they have sauces available, along with cutlery and napkins (which you will 100% need lol). My mom and I also shared their mac and cheese. One thing I noticed (and really appreciated) was the cheese was *REAL CHEESE*. Like - it was obviously shredded and stringy, and was not some weird sauce from a can. The *only* reason they are getting 4 stars instead of 5 is because my food was cold. Maybe it's a personal preference? But I do prefer my food hot. Everyone here was so incredibly nice. From the gal who took our order to the servers who dropped off our food - we were checked on throughout and a manager came by once and checked on us too. Everyone was friendly, helpful, and available if needed. Every single one of us (myself included) needed a to-go box because we had so much food and they gave my dad a free ice cream cone for his birthday. The restaurant is inside of a store that has loads of kitschy things to look at and buy, and there's a gas station out front. I'm not sure what I was expecting coming into this place lol but it was really rad.

I had to come here twice since they were completely sold out of almost all their meat the first time, so plan accordingly! I ordered Tom's Brisket Stack (half) and it was delicious. The serving was small for the price in my opinion (15$), which consisted of two slices of meat, an egg, and two hashbrown cakes. The BBQ sauce was delicious and the brisket was tender. My friend ordered the Hangover and the serving seemed a lot better (18$). They were very happy with everything. I enjoyed walking around the store and watching some fish. There's a large seating area inside, but also some tables outside, which was nice. I'd definitely come back and try more. If you're looking for good BBQ, this is the place to be. Locals kept coming by to pick up to-go orders and they seemed busy even though there wasn't a line the entire time we were there.

The food is good and the customer service is good too. Like other people have said, it's pretty unique and worth checking out.

I can only vouch for this restaurant through the takeout that our friends purchased for a dinner my friend and I were invited to. There were 5 of us. They purchased 4 (2-3 meat platters), Ribs, Pulled Pork and Brisket with sides of Mayo Cole claw, Famous BBQ Baked Beans, Potato Salad and a lot of sauces. Each takeout container was presented very nicely. The portions were very big, enough for 5 people plus leftovers. The taste was very good. The meats were juicy. The smoky flavor could of been more though. The Texas Toast and all the sides were excellent along with the sauces and it was all packed up, easy for our friend to drive back home. I did ask my friend how the service was, he said it was good, but because he didn't pre-order, it was a long wait to be expected. Takeout service: good. Food: very good.

It's a very kitschy place attracts tourists and a good weekend scene. It's a novel idea a gas station with BBQ food.

Our family tried out The Thumb BBQ this past weekend and it was fantastic! Each one of us had a great time. There were so many fun things to look at. The decor and atmosphere are really fun. And the shopping was so much fun! I couldn't believe how big the shopping area was and how neat all the items were. The service was super friendly. It is a fast casual restaurant. The food was sooooo good. I had the 3 Little Pigs sliders and they were phenomenal. I got some of the BBQ sauce to dip them on the side. My favorite was the brisket. When I go back, I'll probably do all brisket instead of 3 different proteins. We will definitely be back!

Everything went well. We had a very nice time and enjoyed all our ordered items. It was going to be a hot day but we sat outside. They brought out our items promptly and were accurate. They left me with very nice salsa to go with my skinny bitch wrap

This establishment has really gotten consistently good! Our visit today- we were so happy with our experience. Politely waited on by staff, orders came promptly, good quality ingredients, nicely presented and delicious!! My husband ordered the assorted tacos with the meat varieties. I had a brisket sandwich that was amazing in flavor!! Great Job!!

Food is really good. We came right at lunch rush so took a bit to get ours. Cuban, brisket sandwiches x 2 and The Hangover plate. Big portions to take home a bunch. It's an eclectic place for sure, lots going on but fun. The real thing to talk about though is the service and staff, cause they're OUTSTANDING. Even the younger folks were considerate, positive and obviously love their jobs. No blank Gen X gazes here. Checking in on you, but not overly, willing to get whatever to add to the meal...it was all phenomenal service and lots of other places could learn from The Thumb how to run a BBQ joint / corner store / gas station / car wash.

Have patronized this establishment for years, and always love the food. I am frequently at Westworld for horse shows always recommended itto people. However, on Saturday I was there with three other people and we had finished our lunch and we're visiting with someone I hadn't seen in 35 years that dropped in to visit. A manager or owner not sure who it was asked us if we could get up and leave as we were holding his table! I failed to mention to him that I already spent over $300 that week on lunches when the establishment was not busy! I always recommended it to people at the horse shows. I will never walk in the doors again, and I will tell everyone not to go! I was appalled at the treatment we received!!!

Yelp SPAM rating Service 7/10 Price 2/10 Ambiance 6/10 Meal 2/10 We were referred to this establishment by several others who are familiar with the area and we decided to give it a try based on their input and the reviews we read online. Great place to shop for gifts and take in the sights. Service was excellent and everyone we interacted with was friendly and attentive. Price of the meal wasn't in line for what we were used to, especially in this economy, but we spent the extra to give it a try. Ambiance is a cool / different thing when you're at a car wash / gas station, but they've pulled it off quite nice. Meal wasn't what we expected with all of the hype and reviews were led to be. Maybe because it was a Friday, not that busy or they just don't have fresh product all the time, but the BBQ we were served just didn't give us that excitement others had in their reviews. Or, they don't know what good BBQ is really like and haven't ventured out enough to experience places like little miss or Bobby Q's to name a couple. Having been to the Mecca of BBQ in KC, TX and NC I'm partial to brisket / pulled pork that's been properly smoked / seasoned / tender & juicy. Their brisket meats were flavorless, dry, and the pulled pork was just mush and maybe why they have bold sauces to help cover up where they lack in smoking / seasoned meats. Potato salad was plain and needed more of a kick (like pickles, onions, mustard). Salad was ok, but for those prices you'd think they would have fresher ingredients on it. All in all it's a great location and concept, but maybe reflect on the product you put out to never accept the norm and challenge yourself to keep improving.

Talk about out of the way good food spot. Heard about this place from someone I follow on Insta. Great food. Great BBQ. Great service. And it's all inside of a gas station..! Yep. It's wild. But if you're looking for great BBQ, and are up near North Scottsdale area, this is a place to visit..!

It has been some time since we were here but we were in the area and ribs sounded good. The ribs were just as tasty as I remembered, although a little fatty. But we were able to scrape that layer off. The meat was tender and so flavorful. The loss of a star goes to the sides. We tried the mac & cheese, cheese and coleslaw since we loved them the first time. Fortunately, the coleslaw was too mayonnaise tasting, and the mac & cheese was very grainy and gritty. Coming back will definitely try burnt ends, just don't know what sided pick.

I've been here twice now and always delicious bbq. I took my friend for lunch. My turn to treat. He had the brisket sandwich and he said it was the best he ever had. I had the 3 mini sandwiches, bbq brisket, pulled pork and bbq chicken. All delicious and yes I had leftovers for the next day. I definitely recommend this restaurant/gas station for a different and unique place to go.

One of the best burgers I've had in a long time cause they use better ingredients. However, the barbecue beans side dish was so tangy tomato be not worth eating. Tater tots were also crummy and do not compliment the quality hamburger. The tots also showed up included in some breakfast combos that degrades the overall meal. Wish the burgers and did not come with a bag of potato chips which are of no interest anymore.

WOW what a hidden gem near Westworld in Scottsdale. This spot has BBQ joint inside, as well as a fully stocked store with seasonal decorations, foods, gifts, etc. The outside is unsuspecting as a gas station and carwash is all you see. I believe i first saw The Thumb on Food network years ago, but happened to be in the area for Barrett Jackson and we decided to stop in for lunch. Best decision ever! The line was long and we waited for approximately 45 minutes. Several people in line kept saying "it's so worth it", so we waited. Time goes quick with all there is to see inside the gas station. The food was delicious. We both ordered hamburgers which came with chips. We also got soft drinks (they have a freestyle machine!) and a side of potato salad. ALSO they have good chip flavors to choose from (ie. Miss Vickie's dill pickle, etc.). Next time we will be back to try the BBQ. A must try if you're in the area!

Five thumbs up! Fun atmosphere, great BBQ - unique shops inside. Service is outstanding Worth a visit!

Came here for lunch and it was delicious. This is a BBQ restaurant inside a gas station and they have inside and outside seating. I ordered the three little pigs (3 BBQ sliders plied high with meat: sliced brisket, pulled pork, and pulled chicken) each meat was moist and perfectly cooked. My spouse got the brisket sandwich and it was moist and yummy. Each meal came with a bag of chips of our choice. All staff were very nice and helpful. We enjoyed everything so much I forgot to take pictures of our food!

During arizona bike week we stopped in for dinner. A random find but so good. They were out of moist brisket, pulled pork and ribs, so we did the sausage, pulled chicken and lean brisket. All of it was so good. The mac and cheese was definitely fresh and the fries were cooked perfectly. The chicken was the star. Moist and super flavorful, with a kick but nothing too much! The brisket looked dry but was so good! And the andouille sausage was spicy but perfect! Also! Don't miss the shopping in the gas station! So many cute things! There is ice cream and coffee which we didn't try, but it's so cute! Worth a visit! Also, service was great!

4 STARSThe food here is good! Their chicken crunchy tacos were stuffed with chicken and very flavorful. Kids cheeseburgers and fries were perfect portions. Long line and it took about 20 minutes to get the food after we ordered but they were very busy as well. 3 STARS car wash We had to ask them to clean the rims in which they said it was dried in the sun but clearly it was never touched. They vacuumed but it wasn't great. They dusted the dashboard but only did half..

Awesome food, friendly service and casual environment. The Thumb has some good BBQ and generous portions. Stopped here after hiking Tom's Thumb trail and I still had leftovers to indulge in after. Definitely worth checking out and will be back if I'm in the area again.

Yummy bbq and the service is outstanding. I'd say they treated us better than any restaurant in Scottsdale. It's hard to find good service anymore. But everyone was very kind that works here. In fact, I would go shop or get coffee just to be treated the way these employees treat customers! The Mac n cheese is gooey and delicious. All of the meats are wonderful. We live nearby so we'll be back frequently!

The service was friendly and easy. It's a nice little place to stop in and eat without too much hassle. It's a gas station/carwash/restaurant, and with that in mind I think the food is good!! Would recommend grabbing something to eat if you're looking for a place to stop :)

The brisket was tender and well prepared. The best I've had. Great customer service for a bar b que place at a gas station. Was not what I expected and I will be a repeat customer.

I love the Thumb. Between the thumb and little Miss, it's hard to go wrong. The food is always excellent. They have an awesome breakfast burrito. Their meat platter is always really good. The meat is cooked to perfection. The restaurant is in a gas station with an eclectic assortment of gifts. It's actually pretty cool. Service is excellent. No complaints! Don't sleep on it!!

My food was fantastic! I ordered the 2 meat and 2 side plate. I got pulled pork and brisket with Mac and cheese and baked beans. I thought the flavors were spot on. My friend got the Thumbs stack which was supposed to be homemade potato cakes but ended up being premade looking hashbrowns. So that wasn't what we thought it was gonna be. That's the only negative I'd say.... Inside the gas station was soooo much more than what I thought it was. What a surprise! I ate scrumptious BBQ, enjoyed a little Christmas shopping at their huge gift store. So many options to choose from. Prices were a little more than I wanted to pay. But.... Staff was very polite and helpful when I asked questions about food options. Inside the restaurant area was nice and clean. Plenty of inside and outside tables to sit at. If you're looking for a different experience I'd highly recommend this place!!

Heard about this place through the grapevine. Never would have thought there was a great place in a gas station!! I was worried at first too because it doesn't smell like bbq outside or inside! Ordered the toms brisket stack which is brisket on hash browns, covered with over easy eggs. Yum!! I ate the eggs and hash browns separate, poking the eggs so the yolks flowed into the hash browns. Mmm! Then I tried the brisket. WOW!! It was moist and tender. The bbq taste was awesome too!! I could not believe it. I think it's the best brisket I've had. I will definitely come back and recommend this place to everyone!

First time eating here with my family. Loved it everything was great! The nachos were great and I got a salad with Chicken was so good. Got 3 meats platter and the meat was so good. Everyone enjoyed their food. Got the churro donuts there good. Got a chocolate chip muffin was very good. Staff was very friendly! Will be coming back here for sure

We love this place, it's so unique and the BBQ is great. The pulled pork burger had the perfect amount of juicy pork in it and the hangover is our other favorite dish here--a runny egg and brisket over fries. They have their own house BBQ as well as chipotle BBQ options that you can pour on yourself or put off to the side. The service is ALWAYS super friendly and this place doubles as a fun souvenir shop/gas station!! Couldn't help but walk out with a bunch of stickers. We haven't tried their desserts yet, but we will be back :)

Yummy bbq! We tried all the meats. The mac and cheese was great too. We picked up and kept warm in the oven for a couple hours and it didn't dry out. We'll be back!

About a year and half later and craving for some BBQ, I decided to give this place a second chance. Maybe I missed something the first time around, I mean 1700+ reviews and 4+ stars can't be wrong? Well they are! Service: After placing the order, cashier said the wait will be 25-30 min. Umm ok, I guess we are already here. I mean you're not cooking anything except the fries, the rest get pulled from a holding bin (after the smoker)? Not many people in here, so I bit perplexed. Turned out the wait was more like 45 min. It was later in the day, so they were out of some proteins and sides. Food: Maybe the food will make it all worth it. Nope. - Pulled pork was good. - Pulled chicken was not edible. Both items were pretty cold. Wife had the pulled chicken sandwich and ended mostly just eating the bun. I told her to take it back and she said there is no way she's waiting 45 min for something else. - Fries were lukewarm and greasy. - Mac and Cheese, which was an upcharge on the combo, lukewarm. Probably even worse than the chicken was the disgusting BBQ sauce. Not sure if it was the vinegar or whatever else they use, but it was bad. So when you encounter bad bbq, at least maybe the sauce can save it: nope not here. We were both joking that even Dickey's does a better job. What's not funny is the good $ we spent here. So I guess for us, this was a last visit. The rest of you five star reviewers, hmmmm. I do see a lot of them with 5 or less reviews; some just the one. It makes you wonder.....

Enjoy coming here for lunch from time to time even though I live on the other side of town (Sun City West).

Such a great place to eat, shop, and enjoy a carwash or get a tank of gas! Love the brisket, and Cuban sandwich with pickles. Great beer too. Don't go there after school it can be hectic and filled with rowdy teenagers. Be a grandpa and go early to sit and enjoy the ambiance and yummy smells all around you.

Had the pulled chicken sandwich, excellent flavor and texture. The potato salad was worthy. Nice folks, too. The ambiance is interesting...It's in a gas station that has this "fast food BBQ", plus a huge snacks/souvenirs area. Our third time there and we're only in Scottsdale a few times a year. Worth trying.

This was some good bbq The brisket sandwich was excellent. I don't like all that fat so they actually have a lean cut. The bbq sauce was great. A nice peppery sweetness to it. The pulled pork was also really good. The chicken was okay. Highly recommend the sliders trio so u can try a little of everything It's a bit pricey for the amount u get.

Hiding spot connected to a gas station! The food comes out fast and hot. The prices are a little high but the portions are HUGE - we all agreed that we should have gotten less food and split it. The best items that we had were the Mac & cheese and the hangover fries! The brisket was so juicy and tender. The Mac & cheese was perfectly creamy. You have to try the angry mustard. Will absolutely go again and try different items.

My husband and I both got the wedge salad with brisket today for lunch. The salad was one of the best wedge salads we have ever had. The brisket was delicious and tender. The only reason I am giving it 4 stars is we both thought it was light on the meat serving. Also, loved their bbq sauce!

15.99 for 4 slices of brisket A few pieces of lettuce and tomato This was not worth it in my opinion...such a letdown The service was AMAZING! Cool place Brisket dry Not with it for the amount of food

Where else can you go after a dog show in Scottsdale fill up the car, find a few cool Knick knacks you didn't know you needed and get some killer BBQ, and have the best service, great staff there on a Sunday.. even got my basset hounds a soft serve ice cream cone to share!!! This place was just the best. Food was seriously amazing. Great onion rings brisket and pulled pork were fire.. we will be back

Sorry but the food was not as good as advertised on diners drive in's and dives. Service was also left to be desired! Tried to engage in conversation regarding seeing them on DDD but they were so ho-hum and nonchalant! But all restaurants are not everyone's choice won't be returning.

Okay... so first of all this place is inside a gas station!?! lol.. you read right! I haven't been to a place to eat that's situated inside a gas station since I lived in Georgia. Yeah... always interesting to me. Anyways, they had some great choices for lemonade that was sold right next to this bbq joint. Prickly pear lemonade was good. We ordered brisket (moist) fries and a brisket plate with two sides of bbq beans, toast (buttered) and sweet potato fries. I'm not a brisket eater but this plate was good. Brisket was seasoned well, moist, and tender. I'd eat here again if I was around this place. My oldest son was having in office surgery so this was right by us. Gas station restaurants crack me up. Glad it was good. A very cute place with a lot of knick-knacks. Service was okay. Not much to say about that. Cashier seemed kind of attitude-ish! Decor was cool. Anyway, check it out if you're in the area.

We had some great food here. We enjoyed the pulled chicken and pulled pork. For our sides we had the potato salad and the macaroni and cheese. Our only complaints were how salty the brisket was. It's already disappointing how you need to pay extra to get a cut from the point - no bbq place in Texas prices like this. On top of that, our brisket was so over-salted we couldn't even eat it. I'm talking so much salt ur mouth quivers... Whether we got a bad batch, or this is their recipe, we'd most likely return for their other meats and sides. No brisket for us.

I can't believe it took me this long to check The Thumb out! First, I love Cuban sandwiches and this one did not disappoint. Loved the mustard aoli. The three little pigs was also a great way to try all the meats. While we waited for our food we checked out the rest of the gas station and I discovered this would be a great place to go for a cute local gift.

I do not live in the area but happened to be over this way. I should have left when she said the brisket was not ready. How does a barbecue place not have it ready!!! Had to take my over medium burnt eggs only to have them bring me over hard and all the other items were cold. Guess I will skip it next time. Sad.

My old college friend and his wife brought us to 'The Thumb' to give us a one-of-a-kind experience. Wow! What a unique experience it was! How do I categorize this place? Part modern art gallery, part restaurant, part coffee shop, part gift shop; and a nice gas station as well?! This place has great BBQ dishes, a great coffee selection, and lots of cool things/art for visual pleasure!. To top it all off, the service was friendly, welcoming and fast. When we were enjoying our BBQ treats and cappuccinos, the store manager, Joe came by our table and greeted us to make sure everything was to our satisfaction. Another friendly and welcoming personality was Christina. No wonder Guy Fieri of the Food Network had this place on his show. This is a must-experience establishment and I highly recommend it! Prices too are reasonable. Thanks to our friends, Mark and Melissa for bringing us to this unique place! I will be revisiting this place next time I'm in Scottsdale, AZ.

Bbq and onion rings were delicious. Banana pudding was a disappointment tho. Too sweet and no banana flavor or bananas. The music was not "background", very loud and screeching. You could not even have a conversation at your table. Just as loud outside on the patio. Customers should be able to eat and talk to each other. I definitely will go back to get the barbecue.

A gas station that has a little bit of everything. The service is friendly and the building is themed nicely. I tried the full brisket stack, about 1/3 of the pulled pork sandwich, and a little bit of everything from the 3 meat platter. The meat platter has sausages, moist brisket, and pulled pork with sides of sweet potato fries and coleslaw. The sides are pretty good but the fries are a bit too salty for my liking. The amount they give is also good as well. They forgot the pulled pork for the meat platter and had to be asked to bring it out. The pulled pork was very good and moist. It definitely needs the BBQ sauces for the flavor, but it's still very good. However, the pulled pork on the sandwich was extremely dry. The difference between the two was night and day, and I'm not sure why. The sausages taste was good but I wasn't a huge fan of the hard outer casing. The full brisket stack tastes good, but the brisket is way too salty. The amount they give for the full stack is also not very good value wise. I'd rather get the 3 meat platter over the stack just because I wouldn't be full from the brisket stack. Overall, not a huge fan of how salty some stuff are and the value I'm getting. The misses on the pulled pork sandwich was also a letdown.