Top BBQ Spots in New Mexico

Watson’s BBQ, Tucumcari, NM

Real wood. Real smoke. Real BBQ. That’s what the sign out front says and when you step inside the aroma supports those declarations. It’s next door to the Tu-cumcari Ranch and Supply store and fits right in to that western motif with its community seating picnic tables, old vintage road signs and cowboy hatted stuffed bear. And then there’s the meat—brisket, pulled pork, sausage and ribs served in sandwiches or as plates with sides. All of the meat is tender, portions are good-sized and sides come in three sizes. Bread is baked daily. Fresh doughnuts in the morning if you’re coming through town early.

Danny’s Place, Carlsbad, NM

This old-fashioned real pit barbecue roadhouse serves up solid plates of Southern and Texas-style barbecue beef brisket, pulled pork and sausage with just the right amount of smoky flavor. All meats are slow-cooked over hardwood for a sweet taste. You’ll find a nice pink smoke ring on the brisket and a great bark on the outside. The pulled pork is imbued with flavor from a dry rub. The meats are juicy and tender without the honey barbecue sauce, but add a dollop for an explosion of flavor. If you’ve never tried fried okra, this is the place to give it a go.

Mad Jack’s Mountaintop Barbecue, Cloudcroft, NM

Central Texas barbecue is all about the rub, a secret blend of spices that defines a pitmaster. Mad Jack’s is a perfect mix of savory and sweet. All meats are cooked over pecan or oak wood which adds to the layers of flavor found in the brisket, pork ribs, chicken, pulled pork and sausage. If you’re lucky, you’ll stop by on a day when the massive dino beef rib, large smoked turkey legs and roasted corn are coming off the grill. Sides are made daily: fresh potato salad and coleslaw, slow-cooked pinto beans and a really cheesy mac and cheese. Food is served on waxed paper, no plates which adds to the comfortable atmosphere.

Whole Hog Cafe, Santa Fe, NM

For more than 20 years, the cafe has been serving customers the perfect marriage of heat and meat. The founders are award-winning pit masters. They use tried-and-true rubs and sauces they’ve perfect throughout their years of smoking meats over toasty pecan wood. You can literally go whole hog here with the ultimate hot platter of pulled pork, beef brisket, pulled chicken and baby back ribs, plus beans, coleslaw, potato salad and dinner rolls. Specialty of the house, other than just the smoked meats, is barbecue nachos with a choice of pork, brisket or chicken. All meats are sold by the pound, too. Great for a take-home meal.

Rudy’s Country Store & BBQ, Albuquerque, NM

Slow-burning oak gives the meats here a heavy smoke flavor, making Rudy’s fare distinctively different. In addition, they add a dry rub that adds a wide-range of spicy overtones. Yes, it’s a chain, but the barbecue tastes just like its Texas Hill Country roots. All the standards are here: brisket, turkey breast, pulled pork, baby back ribs and a taste of the southwest, jalapeño sausage. Walk-up ordering, funky red food trays and red-checked tablecloths create a casual, laid-back atmosphere.

The Spare Rib BBQ Company, Farmington, NM

When the restaurant has rib in the name and there’s a roll of paper towels on the table you’re in for a finger-lickin’ good meal. For more than 35 years, this has been the local place for home-style barbecue. They serve hickory smoked brisket, chicken, sausage, pulled pork and first-rate pork ribs. Sides are customary for a barbecue spot: corn on the cob, black-eyed peas and okra top the list of favorites. Save room for homemade fruit cobbler.

Key Insights at a Glance

• Barbecue is big in the U.S. with each region having its own style and flavor.
• New Mexico has its own unique take on barbecue, combining flavors from Central Texas, Memphis, and Kansas City with New Mexican flare.
• Some of the best BBQ joints in New Mexico include Real Wood BBQ in Tucumcari, Watson's BBQ in Tucumcari, Danny's Place in Carlsbad, Mad Jack's Mountaintop Barbecue in Cloudcroft, Whole Hog Cafe in Santa Fe, Rudy's Country Store & BBQ in Albuquerque, and The Spare Rib BBQ Company in Farmington.
• Each of these joints offers a variety of smoked meats, sides, and unique dishes, all cooked over real wood for an authentic barbecue experience.
• From brisket to ribs to pulled pork, New Mexico's barbecue scene has something for every meat lover.