J&M BBQ
3605 34th Street
Lubbock, Texas 79410
806-796-1164
Sometimes the best travel experiences aren’t planned at all.
After a long day behind the wheel, we rolled into Lubbock in our motorhome with our Jeep in tow. Once we got settled into the RV park, we discovered that the “curly-Q” electrical cord connecting the motorhome to the Jeep had come loose somewhere along the drive and had been badly damaged. Suddenly, our relaxing evening turned into a mission to find replacement parts before continuing our journey.
We drove all over the area looking for a solution but had no luck. Somewhere along the way we passed a little BBQ restaurant called J&M BBQ. About a block later, our stomachs reminded us that we hadn’t eaten all day.
U-turn!
Walking through the front door, we were immediately greeted by the incredible smell of slow-smoked barbecue. The restaurant was busy enough to know it was popular, but not so crowded that we felt rushed. As we looked over the menu, there was some good-natured banter between someone working in the open kitchen and one of the waitresses. It was obvious this was a place where everyone enjoyed what they were doing, and it made us smile.
While we were deciding what to order, a gentleman from the kitchen came over to help. After hearing that we weren’t “from around here,” he enthusiastically recommended a few of his favorite menu items. We soon learned he was actually the owner. Even more surprising, he had once lived in the Phoenix area, where we’re from! We enjoyed a wonderful conversation while waiting for our food, and before long it felt less like we were customers and more like old friends.
Since we’d had a long day of driving, we took our meal back to the motorhome. Even after the drive back to the RV park, everything was still piping hot.
The first bite told us everything we needed to know.
The brisket was perfectly smoked, the sides were outstanding, and every bite was packed with flavor. To this day, we still talk about that meal. It may very well have been the best barbecue we’ve ever had.
If your travels ever bring you through Lubbock, Texas, do yourself a favor and stop by J&M BBQ. You just might discover, as we did, that sometimes the best meals are the ones you never planned to find.
OOO – Only Our Opinion: We are not paid reviewers, influencers, or food critics. We simply enjoy sharing the places that made our travels a little more memorable. Every recommendation on Journey For 2 comes from our own personal experience.