The food: Seafood buffet (I know.. ordering seafood at a bbq place? smh) rates 9/10 for taste & quality and 6.5/10 for selection. Really liked the shrimp and boudain balls. 3 meats plate with turkey, sausage, and pork ribs (8.5/10) with sides coleslaw (5/10), potato salad (9/10), and ranch style beans (7/10). Peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream (7/10). Overall - we'll definitely be back. I think it's hard to find a bbq place that has both really good meat AND sides. It's usually one or the other.
(4)
Brock R.
Fantastic food on the buffet with fresh salad & salad bar vegetables. The homemade fried chicken is phenomenal & you will hurt yourself from eating too many pieces. Unique clean eatery with friendly staff located in Alvin, TX off State HWY 6 in the home town of Legendary MLB pitcher Nolan Ryan. If you like fantastic home cooking find your way here.
(5)
Morgan R.
There's nothing bad I could say about Joe's BBQ. I get the Baked Potato with chopped beef on it every time and it is delicious and humongous. The seafood Buffett is nice as well, serving crab, shrimp, catfish, boudin balls, frog legs, and mac and cheese. Well worth the money and the service is awesome!
(5)
Robert M.
The BBQ ribs and sausage is decent,the brisker was horrible and the service is mostly friendly...we were there last night and whoever the blond female "manager" is was staring us down, pointing us out to two workers at the counter and would position herself in various places in the dining room and watch us? Pretty odd behavior and enough to keep us away...still can't figure out her problem!
(1)
Devin T.
My dad and I go here for lunch just about every time I come home and it never disappoints. Good home cooking in a casual atmosphere. Smiling faces and friendly people everywhere. They also do take out and catering.
(5)
Gavin M.
I've only been here once, and the folks that brought me here swear that it was a horribly off-night. I was hankering for some good brisket, so we came here at their recommendation. "Best in town", they said. So we all order our plates at the counter and fill our glasses of tea. When I got my plate of sausage and double brisket, I knew it was not going to be over the top. The sausage was good, but the brisket was DRY. I couldn't eat it with out dousing it in BBQ sauce. Everyone's brisket was the same way. So...we called over an employee who got the owner to come over. The owner took a couple of bites of the brisket and said that, "No, this isn't dry." Whatever - he brought us out a new, big platter with brisket that was a lot moister but was completely full of fat. It's a shame when a Texas BBQ joint can't make a halfway decent slab of brisket.
(2)
M. E.
I was in the area and decided to try Joe's for the first time. I ordered the one meat pork ribs plate. I liked the sweet/savory/salty rub but the meat was dry. At first I ordered the fries with it because I wasn't sure how spicy the beans would be. The fries tasted like fish...I guess they use the same fryer for the seafood (buffet) as the fries and they were nasty. My server didn't seem to speak/understand English so she got the floor Mgr. and she was kind enough to bring me a bowl of beans which I did enjoy. A little spice but not too spicy. I also tried their homemade potato chips which were good, but a few were soggy instead of crisp.They did bring a full carafe of tea for just me to refill my drink which was a nice touch. Finding my way out was a little challenging as no one really tells you where to pay or how to get to the cash stand and it's not marked. The cashiers were so busy chatting with each other no one bothered to say "Hi how was your meal?" or "thank you" or anything. Overall for a $19 dollar lunch it was just OK but nothing to take a half hour drive back to Alvin for.
(3)
Jeremy T.
I stopped in after visiting a client site in the area on my drive back to houston. Id been here several times over the last 20 or so years, so i knew it'd be another great meal. Upon getting out of my car, one can smell the smoke from the pits in the air. This is one of the finest smelling parking lots in texas, id have to say. Just based on that, id give it 5 stars. I ordered the chopped beef special which comes with baked beans ($5). A pretty good deal for a large sandwich with chopped brisket that's fairly fatty. They have opened a new seating area on the west side of the dining room and a new procedure for paying fr your meal, which is done when you are finished. Grab a homemade beef jerky on your way out for later!
I was driving through Alvin and decided to give Joe's a try. I ordered the 2 meat plate (brisket and sausage), I found it was nice that they include 3 sides with your order (potato salad, cole slaw, and beans). First off the service was good, much better than what I've read about in previous reviews. The staff always kept my ice tea refilled and they checked on me throughout my meal to see if there was anything I needed. Prices are average for a BBQ place. No lower or higher than anywhere else in the Houston area. They however do serve you generous portions compared to most other places. However the food itself leaves much to be desired. The brisket was bland and dry, and not quite as tender or smoky as you would expect from a reputable Texas BBQ joint. The sausage was decent. The cole slaw, and potato salad were ok. The beans were my favorite part, very tasty. One thing I will give them is their presentation is very impressive, the way it is served and how it looks on the plate. Very nice and neat. Almost like it's getting ready for a photo shoot. All in all, it was average. Not somewhere I would make a special trip to eat at. But if you're in the area and need a bbq fix, then stop by.
(3)
Mike H.
Pretty good BBQ at a fair price. The atmosphere is pretty rustic but fits the place well. They've got a pretty good breakfast next door on the weekends.
(4)
Austin M.
Decent BBQ but not the greatest. A little pricey even for que. The portions are huge and the sauce taste good. They have a jalapeño/onion/pickle bar just like most Texas BBQ places. Usually pretty packed up the wait for your food isn't bad. I would recommend it for people not looking to leave Alvin. If you're OK with driving somewhere else though Rudy's is on i-45 about 20 mins East of town.
(4)
Lasairiona M.
Walk in, go left, order, collect food, sit, eat food, pay on exit. Things I like about this place: The manager - he came over to introduce himself to our group of 9, he was very friendly and willing to help if we needed it, he was funny and friendly and our group enjoyed him approaching us to see how we were doing. The potato salad. I don't tend to like potato salad, but I demolished mine and almost went back for more. The onion rings (hubby gave up 2 of his sides to take some rings) and they are delicious!! The bread drawer - I only found this cause some guy in front of me used it, warm bread available throughout your meal is great. And the bread is big enough to make sausage sandwiches with (which really isn't important to anyone but my UK friends and I!) The brisket was tasty. Things I don't like: The drinks machine is behind the counter and since you're drinking out of a mason jar, you need refills more frequently. They don't ask what sides you'd like and instead assume you want potato salad, beans and coleslaw - I'd have quite liked something else, but don't feel like I was given an option. I like having an open counter for sides that you can pick what you want. The meat they have on offer isn't listed on the menu, so they ask what 2 meats you want (if you pick a 2 meat plate) and I had to guess. They cover the meat in sauce - they don't tell you this ahead of time, and, thankfully the sauce was nice, but for first-timers, they will pour sauce over your meat. The skin of the sausage is tough and unyielding and I wasn't thrilled with the chicken. It's definitely 'real' bbq and a good experience, we'd go back if we were passing.
(4)
Chris A.
So first let me mention how amazing the restaurants decor is, there is something about walking into this place that automatically makes me feel like a Texan. There is a whole bunch of large animals heads looking at you while you eat your meal and the cow references all around the restaurant make me remember what a Barbecue really is. The food was great, the steak that I ordered was really rare which isn't a bad thing, but it was the type of rare meat that takes forever to chew. Normally I wouldn't complain about a steak being slightly undercooked but I ordered a 18 ounce cowboy steak with a baked potato so it gave the food time to cool down making the steak nearly impossible to chew towards the end, almost a gum like texture. Besides that the steak tasted really good and the baked potato was great, I would definitely recommend this place.
(4)
Patrick S.
The food is great! They have been around forever and have always made top quality BBQ. Try the breakfast buffet at their place next door, you'll be glad you did!
(5)
John F.
Great Food. Dad and I stepped in for some BBQ and both had the seafood buffet. It's apparent that the quality of the food is their priority. Everything was fried golden goodness. Not one item was over cooked. They have a cobbler and real ice cream bar, but we were too stuffed to try it this round.
(5)
Talisa A.
For my first time here, I overall had a great experience. I deducted a star, because a couple of the staff was a bit rude, but not everyone. My toddler had the pulled pork Kids' Plate. Her beans were a bit spicy, but it's the first time I have seen her eat meat other than chicken! I also had pulled pork, but as a sandwich. I also had their potato chip cup. My toddler kept stealing my chips as they were tasty. They were busy and we wound up sharing a table with a kind gentleman, who also felt a bit bad for taking up a table for 6 for 1. We had a fun time chatting and I learned from him how to get extra refills and how to pay my bill afterwards. At checkout, we also bought a couple pieces of rock candy. They were sweet and actually fairly easy to bite off the stick. It was also the first time my toddler has ever tried rock candy, so she was ecstatic. We'd definitely come again.
(4)
Felicia B.
Been coming here for 10yrs plus & the food is not what it use to be. A group of 5 & no one liked their food. I had a baked potato & the meat/sauce looked like sloppy joe & tasted horrible. This place gets packed & very busy. With that being said the staff is so busy & in a hurry they forget about customer service & putting a smile on their face.
(3)
Mario B.
So looking at my profile I realized I looked like a negative Nelly since all reviews I have on here are bad so I decided to leave a few good ones to balance out the world of Yelp. Joe's is THE BBQ spot! I have been to a lot of BBQ places and let me tell you. Hands down, Joe's is the best BBQ I've had and the most bang for your buck. Triple meat of your choice, potato salad, coleslaw and beans for under $20 bucks and they do pile it on. I even convinced my vegetarian girlfriend to go with me for a baked potato. Ever in the Alvin area, you've gotta stop in.
(5)
Maria K.
Grabbed some sliced beef sandwiches on our way to Galveston. Those things are ginormous, and the brisket is just so perfect! We are definitely coming back next time we drive on that neck of the woods!!!
(4)
Keith B.
Recently had Joe's cater after a funeral for my mother and what an amazing job they did. My business partner ordered it for my family and everything was included. I can with brisket, chicken, potato salad, bread, sweet tea and even the ice , cups and plates. What a first class operation, my family has always liked joe's bbq but this was just way beyond expectations.
(5)
John P.
Had the all you could eat chicken fried steak and the sliced beef brisket. The chicken fried steak was done perfectly, it was tender and very tasty.The sliced brisket melted in your mouth. It was not dry it was moist and very tender. The macaroni and cheese is to die for! I could've eaten the gallon. Beer is cold, service I s great, prices are right. You cannot go wrong here. One last thing; do not skip the mashed potatoes and cream gravy. They are better than grandma makes!
(4)
Brent K.
I was disappointed. I got the 3 meat plate, pork ribs, brisket, and jalapeño sausage. The sausage was the only thing worth eating. Both brisket and ribs were dry, overcooked. I'll try them again but they need to make sure they are serving good food. I should've sent it back but I was with a large corporate group and we were on a tight schedule.
(1)
Kurllenne M.
OMG! Went to this spot for breakfast on a Saturday!!! Delicious!! Texas shaped waffles! All you can eat!! The staff is extra friendly. You feel like you are family and at someone's home.
(5)
Karl H.
Joe's catfish and chicken fried steak are outstanding. Highly recommend these choices and in all you can eat as well. Staff is very friendly and the mashed potatoes are terrific as well. I would not recommend their barbeque, however. I had it once and it was very dry, overcooked and not good at all. Gonna give it a five star for the two plates of catfish and chicken fried steak, which is probably the best I have ever eaten.
(5)
Chelsea M.
Just visited Joe's when we were in Alvin this past week again and man did the quality go down :( The cheese on the bbq nachos is no longer a tasty melty nacho cheese. It tasted just like a Velveeta type cheese. I posted a pic of the bbq nachos on here about a month ago when I didnt know they had changed. Unfortunately, they don't look as good or taste as good as they didn't when that pic was taken 2yrs ago. The brisket that was ordered was also incredibly fatty! The guy gave her extra because he said it was a little fatty, but he ended up giving her a piece that was virtually all fat! That was a huge disappointment seeing as we traveled all the way from MN, and had anticipated a wonderful experience. That's too bad, but we at least picked up a couple things of their classic steak seasoning with thankfully didn't change.
(2)
Megan C.
i would make the hour drive again to have this BBQ
(4)
Jesse S.
Joes BBQ has been open for a while now and has been the go to place for local BBQ. In its heyday it was always lines out the door award winning BBQ. However in the last couple of years it seems they have lost their mojo. It definitely is not award winning. Brisket is usually dry, beans are bland, sausage is mediocre, and ribs are tough. If you just have to have BBQ and aren't willing to drive to Pearland then Joe's BBQ will do.
(2)
Katie W.
Anyplace that has a moose head and a buffalo head on the wall has to be an interesting place. I got the sliced brisket sandwich with onion rings on the side. The roll was fantastic, but the meat was dry and tough. The onion rings were perfection. The drink refilling situation is awkward. And I feel like everything is sort of secret, the ice cream is free for kids, but there is no way to know that. There is a bread drawer, but the only way I realized it was watching someone else grab a slice. And you pay after you eat, even though it is counter service. The potato chips with my daughter's meal were homemade and tasted great.
(3)
Mr C.
The food and service is always good. The seafood buffet on Fridays is a must try. Nice atmosphere and friendly employees.
(4)
Lisa F.
We live in Austin, but I grew up in Alvin and saw Joe's grow from a small meat market to this great place. Where to start? First we have to stay at least 3 days in the area to truly appreciate all that Joe's has to offer. First and foremost: the chicken Fried Steak is the best you will have anywhere! I challenge you to tell me of a place that I can get to in Texas or any place else that has as good or better. I think the secret is ... Joe's figured out a good Chicken Fried Steak needs to be properly seasoned and fried like chicken. That light fluffy fry. Also, the meat has to be good. Tender or tenderized and not to thin. And the gravy is also very good. The Chicken Fried Steaks I have had here over the years cannot be beat and believe me I have followed up on the leads I have been given and have only left disappointed. A close second: the stuffed BBQ potato. It is good for at least 2 meals and I am not sure which is better the fresh or the day old. The day old is great because the flavors really meld. So the hint here is: Get a CFS for your fresh meal and order a BBQ stuffed potato to go. Third- Their brisket has a great smokey flavor. There are 2 types the lean, mean, tough and dry for those who like that or the fattier type. You choose based on your looks. And there is a fourth option...their all you can eat Seafood. I had this one time. Usually when we go to Joes we have already had our fill of seafood at the coast. But, if I could not do that and had enough days to get through the rest I would probably do that. So why 4 stars??? the glasses for drinks. They used to be as big. Now they are much smaller and refills seem to be hard to come by. But the food is so good and filling, I feel it is OK to take a breather and get up to find someone to refill it.
(4)
micah K.
The sides are all pretty good. The portions are very big. But the meat is dry. I've been here twice now and been underwhelmed with the Turkey, Sausage, Pulled Pork, Ribs, and Brisket. It was all very dry on both occasions. The only way it was edible was to other it in BBQ sauce, which was average. I love Texas BBQ. This is some of the worst that I've had though.
(2)
Amy H.
We stopped in based on the reviews. They were out of pork ribs which left us scrambling to decide what we wanted. The smoked turkey was good as we're the fries but I was a little perplexed as to why they stuck a big 'ol of beans on the kids plate. Husband and I ended up with the 2 meat plates and each had pulled pork and brisket. The portions are huge, but the flavor was a little underwhelming. Could be because we prefer Kanas City style sauce. The brisket and pork were plenty moist. But again the portions were huge and we ended up taking home more than we ate at the restaurant. It was worth a try but we probably won't be back.
(3)
Franco R.
By far the best Barbeque Baked Potato I've ever had. Ordered all the way but was not able to finish it. One day I'll go back a little hungrier.. I'd say it's well worth the drive.
(5)
Kirk D.
Just average ! Average BBQ not great and not bad. The iced tea they rave about is really bad, no flavor ! I feel the price is too high for the quality.
(3)
Dale J.
Awesome barbecue always a great place to get any home cooking. You can also see the history of the Texas Rangers and local town legend Nolan Ryan pictures on the wall and tables. JOE'S bbq is a place where everyone in town meets up for almost every event.
(5)
Cameron K.
We saw a little blurb about this place on Fox 26 News on Friday so we decided to try it out for lunch. It was so worth the drive. During non-traffic times, it takes about 35 minutes to get here from downtown Houston. Laid out in a rustic log cabin setting, there is a small buffet and tempting salad bar along with all of the items on the menu. You really can't go bad with any choice here. My wife had the chopped beef sandwich and I had the Friday special seafood buffett. Both were quite good. The chopped beef was very tasty. The seafood buffet was pretty good. Served fried fish, fried popcorn shrimp, frog legs, boudin balls, hushpuppies, gumbo and red beans & rice. The red beans and rice were outstanding. Brought back memories of my Aunt making that for us when she lived in Louisiana. ALSO, do yourself a favor and get an order of onion rings. You won't be disappointed. We will definetely return to try the brisket and ribs.
(4)
P F.
Was a five star bbq place. The Joe retried. Big portions but doesn't really hit the spot when you're craving really good bbq
(2)
Lauren M.
I found the BBQ here to be ok but not fabulous. I had brisket and about half of mine was quite dry. The sauce helped but I prefer a little sweetness in my sauce. The portion was quite generous. The slaw was nice and crunchy. The beans were smokey and unique. The sweet tea was not sweet by southern standards. All in all, not a bad meal, just unremarkable.
(3)
Jen K.
Absolutely amazing! Best home cooked food I've had in a long time! The place is extremely clean! I'm looking forward to going back as soon as possible!
(5)
Alan S.
Who would expect this place to have good seafood??? But it did! They had an "all-you-can-eat" sea food setup today and I thought, why the heck not. The fried catfish and fried shrimp were very good, better then some seafood restaurants I've been to. The cornbread muffins were also quite good, and what I could only guess were boudin balls were full of flavor. The rest of the stuff, was average... but for $13 it was different and nice. I'll defiantly hit this place up again and maybe go for the stuffed potato next time, it looked quite good as well!
(4)
Roxanne K.
Have mercy... seriously? I am a lover of pulled pork like no other.... This place left me disgusted! I was SO excited to go here and get blown away and was anything but. I can't even express how bad it was. Think of boiled pork, chopped but not pulled and toss on a plate with some of the worse sauce ever. You get this heaping pile of meat and I left almost all of it behind. What a waste and what a disgrace... perhaps I had a one off experience... but I doubt it seeing a review like mine around the same time. Maybe something has happened in the kitchen. Beans were salty, slaw was meh and potato salad probably comes from a tub. I was just sickened... what a disappointment, how could you do it to me Joe?
(1)
Matthew C.
This is the second time I have been to Joe's and it definitely won't be my last. Let me first say, if you leave hungry - you might have a potential career in competitive eating. I note this because I have a big appetite. My meal today consisted of brisket and turkey. I really feel like you can judge a BBQ place in Texas by having an establishments brisket. In this case, it was well above average. For those of you who like fattier varieties - this is probably not for you. Joe's brisket shades more on the lean side, but it is very moist and flavorful. It is not smoke heavy, seems just right. I think I would like a little more pop via spice, but I am being picky. The smoked turkey was really something to behold. Wow, I wish I could have this on Thanksgiving! It was very moist and had the perfect smoke flavor. Sauce comes on the side - how it should be served. It is more vinegar than sweet and almost has a smoke flavor to it. My sides were great. The beans had a slight bacon note. They are not spicy. The coleslaw was just to my liking. It was crisp and fresh tasting and very light on the Mayo. You actually get 3 sides with a meal - again, quantity, but I opted for just two. They also have a daily special just about every day. Typically of the all you can eat variety. Today's looked appealing - all you can eat CFS. It also included cobbler and ice cream for $10. I wanted to review the BBQ, but looking at others tables - very appealing. Last thing, I had 3 different employees greet me and ask me about my meal. Call me old school, but I really appreciate that. Joe's I will be back!
(5)
Junho S.
After hearing about Joe's from radio hosts I had to try this place out. I got the two meat platter (Brisket and Jalapeno Sausage). Beans, Cole Slaw, and Potato Salad comes with the platter. I'll start with the staff at the restaurant. They were awesome! Friendly and very helpful. Made you feel welcome and comfortable there. The bbq on the other hand was a different story. The brisket had a nice red smoke ring around it but was a little tough. The sausage was dried out almost like jerky. Both had good flavor but was not up to par in tenderness. The BBQ sauce was very watery and didnt hold on to the meat well. The flavor of the BBQ sauce was good but was a little too runny for my taste. The sides that came with the platter was tasty. Not too much mayo and not too tangy. Just right. I actually prefer my potato salad and cole slaw German Style (without mayo). Joe's made it well with the right blend of mayo. If I were to rate this only on the BBQ it would have been two stars. But thanks to the awesome staff and side dishes I had to bump it up to three stars. I rate based on the whole experience. "The BBQ smoke smelled right...but didnt taste right. Asi Asi."
(3)
Nick R.
The Wife and I visited this restaurant last weekend. It was packed; we came for a late dinner. My Wife had the baked potato all the way with beef on top. I had the chicken fried steak (large portion) and it was big. Depending on one's appetite it could feed for a few meals maybe three for big eaters or four for smaller eaters. There are two sizes which can be ordered. Also, sides were baked potato all the way and ice tea in mason jars. Let's just say individuals will not lose any weight by eating this dish but it was good vs the bar-b-q I have had here - won't be ordering that again here. However, the CFS was pretty decent; I would order it again for sure! The Wife did like here baked potato and would order it again as well. The price was modestly priced, think we got out with less than $18 for two on this visit.
(3)
Erik T.
Absolutely the best BBQ I have had. Friendly staff, great food! A must do when in the Houston area.
(5)
Candace W.
The best barbecue baked potato I've ever had and I'm not really a fan of barbecue! They cook their potatoes outside in the pit and they are so soft and delicious. And HUGE. Plan on having leftovers if you order this. My favorite part? It's good food in Alvin. Hmmm...who'da thunk?
(4)
Roxy F.
Too busy. Baked potatoes arent as big as expected. Try kelleys country cookin restaurant baked potatoes.yikes!! I think its pricey for food quality and taste.
(2)
Dana C.
Best breakfast buffet ever!
(4)
Stacy A.
I've been going to Joe's for years! It's always delicious, fresh, and fast. We always bring people coming into town here for authentic Texas BBQ.
(5)
J W.
Huge baked potatoes. Really good brisket.
(4)
danielle w.
Know what my favorite thing is about this place? I mean, aside from the bad ass bbq that they serve up and the wild boar, deer & javalina heads on the wall? The floors. The old, creaky and squeaky wooden floors. Every time I walk inside of Joe's BBQ I am taken back to my childhood. My wonderful bbq eating childhood. My parents and siblings used to go to Joe's quite a bit when my dad worked out in the Alvin/Manvel area in Texas in petroleum sales. (Would there be anything else to do there, really?) My whole life I've been going here and it's not changed for the worse, in fact, it's not changed at all. This last time we were in Houston visiting family, I all but forced my parents in the car and demanded Joe's. (Not really, I asked politely...kind of). My stomach was growling when we pulled in the parking lot and I knew I was ready for old trusty. I always, always get the "special baked potato". It's a massive meteor sized tater stuffed with butter, sour cream, green onions, bacon and oh yes, a MOUND of hot chopped beef, all topped off with cheddar cheese. It was just as I had remembered. The potato was tender and the meat was amazing. The sauce is amazing and the meat is amazing and everything about this potato was STILL amazing....20 years later...this place is STILL my favorite. It's your no frills kind of southern, down home bbq in a old wooden house with old wooden floors. You walk up, pick your poison, grab it and go sit. *I can recommend the pulled pork, pork ribs (which my dad might share, just depends) and the chopped beef. Those are the only things I've had. The potato remains KING of all. Whenever you're ready to throw in the towel at Joe's...DON'T. Go up to the same spot where you grabbed your food and look to the right at the *ALL YOU CAN EAT COBBLER and ICE CREAM* That's right...all you can eat. Believe me, after eating a meal, it'll be tough, but I can always muster enough strength to go get a bowl. They always have peach and it is by far the best, the the apple and cherry are great too. Every good southern girl knows that the crust is everyone's favorite and the people at Joe's obviously know that too because it's great. I know, this is a long review, but I had to do it. This place is worth the road trip. I promise you. Nothing at Joe's has changed. The prices are the same since I can remember, the service is great and the food is spot on! The cute little store attached to Joe's is really neat, but I do believe they may have gone a little Vera Bradley crazy in there. It used to be more candles, cutsie little things, but it's gone a bit more up scale and higher price for my liking. GO TO JOE'S. Eat at Joe's, eat a lot. Then, eat some cobbler and just sit for a while. You'll need to. I normally hate that "SO FULL" feeling, but not when I go here. I bask in it!
(5)
April C.
Brisket was ok. It did not taste like they smoked it so maybe they boiled it first. Nothing special. Service was good. Onion rings are fantastic.
(3)
Cole M.
Never in my life had I ever experienced a truly loaded baked potato, but at Joe's I finally understood what a truly loaded baked potato was. Full of smoky and rich bbq with all of the toppings I could think of. The portion was as big as my head and I waddled out the door. The price is no different than typical fast food but you could taste the love of cooking in every bite, I would so go back in a heartbeat.
(5)
Mike W.
Joe's was the first three meat plate I fell in love with and a standard by which all others are judged. In fact, It's still the only BBQ joint on my cell phone. When it comes to Q, Joe's is my Capistrano. So what would happen when I returned to my humble roots with my big city yelp glasses on? I was was nervous to find out. To provide some context, realize that Joe's is THE place to eat in the greater Alvin area. Featured prominently on Highway 6 just before Highway 35, it enjoys a steady stream of customers in it's large barn of barbecue (2000 daily). Hell, it even has a gift shop next door that I've never visited in the 20+ years I've been coming here. But near as I can tell, it features various accoutrement of the scented candle and checkered pattern type. Inside of Joe's is a cavernous two storied dining room that features a smorgasbord of taxidermy. You're herded like cattle to where you order and then you move along the line picking up your order and beverage as you go. From there you continue to the condiment table and the bread warmer. Yes, a bread drawer! It's cold by the time you sit down, but at least they're trying. It's always fast, courteous, and smooth. You have the option to get the buffet or standards like CFS and the massive BBQ potato, but I go for two things: 3 meat plate or a sliced beef po boy. I'm not going to blow smoke, Joe's isn't the best on the planet. It's good and consistent. Every town in Texas would be lucky to have one, but for me it's more of a sentimental favorite than a "world's greatest" contender. The thinly sliced brisket is generally lean and weii-trimmed. Always tender, it is occasionally a tad dry. The pork ribs are faintly smokey with a maroon lacquer. Tender, but not fall off the bone. The sausage is a pork/beef kielbasa type with good flavor and a crispy casing. I tried the new jalapeno sausage recently and couldn't tell if it was way overcooked or what was happening. Generally all of the above can be downright average, usually good, but never bad. The sides here are great. And they treat you like a respectable human being by offering all three standard sides on their plates. Asking me what two sides I want is like asking which hand I'd like to keep. The pinto beans are always warm and perfectly cooked. The cole slaw is a cool dash of mayo cabbage n' carrot crunch. The mayo segues into the mustard kick of the not-too-smooth potato salad. And the cobbler.....oh the cobbler. If the cobbler is wrong, I don't want to be right. This place is serving better than average bbq and great service at a good price. Mix that with a good country vibe and just enough kitsch and it feels like everybody's hometown place for Q.
(4)
Hoang-Chau N.
Ribs were okay, I would pick the pork ribs over the huge beef ribs, but the ribs weren't as tender and moist as I'd like. There's a local spot close to my house in Dallas and its way cheaper and is a lot more moist (Slab's) but if you want to have a far drive out to somewhere out of this world in Texas go to Lockhart and try Smittys and Kreuz
(3)
Holly B.
Hands Down one of the best places I have ever been to get great authentic Texas BBQ. The lodge design is really fun, but what keeps me coming back again and again and again is the amazing food. Best thing I have tried so far: Baked potatoe topped with shredded prok. My husband loves the chicken fried steak. I am glad I dont live close or I might not cook again!
(4)
Paul M.
Best barbeque place in Houston. Worth the drive to Alvin.
(4)
Bubba B.
I go here every time I'm in Houston. Absolutely the best BBQ I have had. Brisket is awesome!! Great decor inside and the help are always friendly. Don't pass on the cobbler and ice cream!!!! It's great as well.....
(5)
trisha h.
I am revoking my previous 5 star review of the JOES Breakfast buffet (This is NOT for the BBQ which is ok its BBQ). The breakfast buffet used to be awesome and inexpensive (I would have paid more) NOW its expensive and food plain old sucks! I could list many reasons not to go there anymore but .................I am not in the mood to list everything. Just very disappointed in the food.
(2)
Rachell U.
I am never disappointed with Joe's. I lived in Angleton for years, and everybody is disillusioned by Bo's BBQ. BLAH! Joe's is the place to be. I live in Houston now, and still make the drive for a delicious BBQ baked potato on occasion. LOVE LOVE LOVE Joe's forever and ever.
(5)
Merrill G.
I've been eating here for years, and it's just fantastic. I've sampled nearly everything on the menu at this point, and the only things I would never order again are the Po-Boys, the hamburger steaks and the plain ol' hamburger. And even those aren't bad, they're just outshined by everything else you could have gotten. (An aside: the cheeseburger tastes exactly like one from Sonic. Eerie.) As you look around the packed restaurant in the evenings, you'll notice about a third of the people have some sort of meat plate combo. Those are all good. Another third have the ribs, which are also good. Everybody else you see probably has some sort of mountainous pile of BBQ and various condiments in front of them on a giant plate. That is the loaded baked potato and is possibly the best food value in Texas by taste and by poundage. Listen to the people ordering in front of you. Several of them got the baked potato, didn't they? There's a reason for that. Be brave; they'll give you a box for what you can't eat.
(4)
Laura L.
Best BBQ I've ever had, anywhere, ever, hands down. I've been eating there for years and will continue as long as we are both in existence! This is the place I always bring people when they come to visit to show them what "real" BBQ tastes like.
(5)
Bobbi B.
Ok the dead animals are on the wall, along with Dead snake skin.... Does it flake off on the food, is my first thought. Then... I try to put it out of my mind.... Its just Texas BBQ. The plates are great and the BBQ is wonderful but not really my best. They have a Buffet and I hate Buffet's. So I stear Clear of that. They do have a homemade fudge, and divinity, so if you had a bad something or other. You can recover with the fudge or divinity. There is antiques and gifts shops near by. The Decor of the place is dead animal meets, farm junk and shack look.
(4)
Pete S.
Went past Alvin in August of 2004 and stopped by Joe's BBQ and Catering. (That's what it was called back then). The place definitely had the rustic Texan feel to it. Log cabin restauant with hunting motifs. The brisket here was good from what I can remember. It was part of the three item combo. It was flavorful and juicy. I also remember the salad bar included chicken strips as one of the choices. I have never seen that before but it was a good thing. Overall, it was good eats, price was a little bit high for the portions I got compared to other Houston BBQs but worth trying.
(4)
Rex K.
Best BBQ in the Alvin region, hands down. Sauce is good too. Never done the buffet, but don't know why you would when the sandwich costs 4-5.
(4)
Nichol K.
For those of you who can't handle the deer and moose heads on the wall...get over it, you are there for the food. Just as a comfort, I do know that they clean the animals with some type of suctioning tool a few times a year so fret not. The owner, Joe Saladino, has his own ranch and also owns his own meat market...the man knows how to handle his meat, LOL. He has the best BBQ sauce around, not too sweet and not too vinegary. They start their smoker pits, kept outback, early every morning and the smell is wonderful. They serve sausage, brisket, steak, poboys, onion rings to die for, salads, HUGE bbq baked potatoes, the VERY BEST chicken fried steak around (not the kind that is more batter and less meat), these steaks are huge and very meaty, and many other excellent menu items to choose from. In addition to the entrees, they have fresh baked cobblers, blue bell ice cream and these big cookies that they bake there and sale at the front register when you leave. The service is Texas friendly, one of the waitresses has been working there since I was 10 years old, it is just a real family friendly kind of place but not so friendly that it is irritating. Try it out! Great prices, huge portions and a very rustic Texas experience.
(5)
J-Mattie M.
I was so looking forward to some pork ribs when I happened upon Alvin and then Joes. The set-up is awkward and no one offered to help me. I was walking around like a chicken with its head cut off. I ended up at the back cashier. She then told me that if I wanted to dine in I'm in the wrong area. I proceeded back to the front and ordered pork ribs even though they had all you can eat beef ribs. I saw many orders of beef ribs but was happy that i didnt order them because they looked like an extremely large animal's legs. My pork ribs came out shortly. I began to eat them, they were extremely bland and something didnt feel right. Btw...no one ever came to my table until i was finally able to get someone's attention for a to-go box and cup. When i got to my car i immediately felt ill. To make a long story short, that was earlier today and im still vomiting with diarhea. I dont mean to gross anyone out but my poop is liquid and every 5 minutes. This is really scary and if i dont feel bettet soon i will go to the emergency room. Needless to say i will never ever ever eat there again. I dont even like Alvin as a result of this experiece. Pork ribs are my favorite food and i dont know if i can ever eat them again! Sad face.
(1)
jason j.
Above average bbq and chicken fried steak. One of the better places to eat in Alvin. The buffet portion can be hit or miss. The salad bar is adequate.
(4)
Alexandra M.
First food experience visiting Texas, and if I came again, this would be my first stop again. I had a 16 oz ribeye. It was so good, I felt like they killed the cow in the back and butchered it fresh.
(5)
John H.
Joe's has my favorite smoked pork in the area. Its pretty typical Texas decor and food. I would definitely recommend them as there are alot of hit or miss BBQ joints.The Friday night buffet is good. I love the boudin balls and stuffed crabs. Sounds odd but they always have good tea too.
(4)
Alan M.
Ate at Joe's a couple times this past week while in the area on travel, at the suggestion of a local colleague. I tried all sorts of stuff. Chicken was awesome, pork links only okay (I expected more heat out of the jalapeno links), ribs were great. I was surprised by the brisket because someone told me while I was visiting that BBQ places in Texas really focus their attention on their brisket, and it wasn't very tender. Prices were good, potato salad and coleslaw sides were as good as any I've ever had. I'd go back. I'd just stay away from links and the brisket.
(4)
Meagan P.
Joe's has been in Alvin for years. It's awesome for chopped BBQ beef baked potatoes, but I would call their BBQ sub-par. This definitely isn't the best, but it will do if you are craving BBQ while you're in this part of Alvin. When you actually walk into Joe's you will notice the decor, almost like you stepped into a time warp. It is very laid back and casual. The salad bar is pretty decent if you aren't in the mood for BBQ also.
(3)
Carlos M.
All you can eat Beef Ribs!!! Enough Said The best BBQ in all the Houston Area . Also an Alvin Institution for as long as I can remember .
(5)
Michael P.
Had my first visit this past weekend and here's pretty much how that went: $14.95 for all you can eat ribs special?! What!? No questions just YES, please! Oh...they're beef ribs...and they're tough as hell...and lacking in that flavor stuff (tho the sauce was pretty good). Joe, you bastard temptress. Needless to say, I was none too impressed and did not have all I could eat. To make matters worse, all around me sat the more restrained people who were loving their non-all you could eat, but more importantly delicious, pork ribs while I gnawed on their leathery bovine counterparts. The seafood buffet actually looked pretty good as well (also AYCE & $14.95). Once bitten, twice shy. Next time I see "all you can eat" and "ribs" in the same sentence, I'll have enough willpower to ask which kind of ribs I'd get. On my next visit to Joe's however, I'll opt for the pork ribs or the seafood.
(2)
Cara L.
We came here on a whim one day after spending the day in the area. It reminded me of your typical Texas BBQ joint. Old decor everywhere, pay at the counter, average 3 meat platters, etc. When we went it was all you can eat ribs on a Saturday. I went for the brisket sandwich (which was SO messy). It tasted good, but didn't blow me away. The sweet potato fries were just okay. Overall the place isn't spectacular but you get a lot of food for a modest price and the service was good. If you're ever in Alvin, give it a try - but go for the ribs because they looked really good even though I didn't get the chance to try one! I definitely had a case of "food envy" when the rest of my table orded them.
(3)
Diane W.
We found this place for the first time tonight in our way to Galveston. The beef ribs were very good, potato salad was awesome and so was the cole slaw. Beans...not so great. Baked stuffed potatoes are huge and very good. Seafood Buffet was ok although everything was fried. The fried catfish was wonderful. The decor was so cute with historical photos on the wall and worth the trip. A definite good stop for a fun and causal lunch or dinner.
(4)
Tim S.
McDonalds' McRib, iis better then this place. Service is horrible. First visit had brisket and sausage, no flavor at all. Second visit had all you can eat ribs, again, no flavor; and no meat. The ribs I had sure didn't look like the pictures posted here.
(1)
Susan H.
Holy Moly what a find... after a day in a courthouse sitting with a friend and seeing the "People of Walmart" crowded in a Bazoria County courthouse this definitely put a nice cap on the end of the day. My friend enjoyed the overly stuffed brisket baked potato and I had ham and ribs. I did get to sample the potato and it was great. Mine was way tooooo much for me but I wanted to keep eating and eating. I think the only thing I would give them 4 stars on would be the cole slaw. Everything else was great! Definitely don't want to go sit in that courthouse again people watching but I would drive to Alvin for another feast at Joe's!
(5)
David N.
Average simple 3 meat plate. Nothing spectacular, but not terrible. I also had an order of sweet potato fries which were just meh also. The brisket is sliced thin but stays moist. For out this far I was hoping for a little bit more.
(3)
Russell P.
EVERY visit i make from so cal its mandatory that i stop by joes for bbq...maybe not for the uppity yup type because its a throwback bbq joint, but if u love great food and excellent smiles i HIGHLY RECOMMEND JOES IN ALVIN!!!!!!
(5)
Mary N.
Joe's is an Alvin tradition. The prices are reasonable and recent renovation helped customer traffic flow to the cash register. Decor is Texas rustic. No issues with service on moderately busy days. Kids feel welcome. The salad bar is limited to basic ingredients. The lettuce is fresh, but the boiled egg pieces were tasteless with a small piece of shell in my serving. The steak is cooked as ordered, but a little tough. To be fair, steak price is in line with the quality. Surprisingly good is the turkey and loaded baked potatoes.They accomodate my request for shredded cheddar on nachos without complaint. Food bar is hit or miss. It can be tasty. Our family will pop in to look at the food bar or grab a burger to escape fast fast food. We travel out of Alvin when we are hungry for really good BBQ.
(2)
Nancy G.
I absolutely love this place the ribs are too die for as well as their baked potatoes! good place to take a family for dinner
(4)
Marcelina B.
My family enjoys Joe's BBQ every time we go. My favorite is the loaded potato, so yummy and ginormous. Burgers are great and fresh and the jalapeño bread is to die for especially when you dip it in their BBQ sauce.
(5)
Addison G.
My Wife is from the Friendswood area and every time we go back to visit family we eat at Joe's. It's awesome! Always good customer service and moderately priced. The food is quality too. Exactly what you'd expect from Texas BBQ. If you are driving through Alvin or near the area definitely go by!
(5)
Dylan H.
Small, bland, and expensive. I'd try the Kelly's down the street before coming to this buffet again.
(2)
Joe L.
Good looking place nice decorations. Lady taking my order would rather play with a co worker than take my order. She tells the workers next to her my order. I then have an older Hispanic guy in a bad mood slides my plate towards me. Lady that gave me my ice tea very nice. I sit down nice clean place so now it's time to test and see what everyone is talking about. The beans needed more salt tasted like watered down ranch style beans. The potato salad awesome. The sausage was dry and the brisket was dry. BBQ sauce was good. So all in all they need better employees and better food. I was there on Friday may 17 at 1 pm. No excuse for bad food. I should of had the fish it looked better. Will not be going back too bad.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Brunch, Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
Sara S.
The food: Seafood buffet (I know.. ordering seafood at a bbq place? smh) rates 9/10 for taste & quality and 6.5/10 for selection. Really liked the shrimp and boudain balls. 3 meats plate with turkey, sausage, and pork ribs (8.5/10) with sides coleslaw (5/10), potato salad (9/10), and ranch style beans (7/10). Peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream (7/10). Overall - we'll definitely be back. I think it's hard to find a bbq place that has both really good meat AND sides. It's usually one or the other.
(4)Brock R.
Fantastic food on the buffet with fresh salad & salad bar vegetables. The homemade fried chicken is phenomenal & you will hurt yourself from eating too many pieces. Unique clean eatery with friendly staff located in Alvin, TX off State HWY 6 in the home town of Legendary MLB pitcher Nolan Ryan. If you like fantastic home cooking find your way here.
(5)Morgan R.
There's nothing bad I could say about Joe's BBQ. I get the Baked Potato with chopped beef on it every time and it is delicious and humongous. The seafood Buffett is nice as well, serving crab, shrimp, catfish, boudin balls, frog legs, and mac and cheese. Well worth the money and the service is awesome!
(5)Robert M.
The BBQ ribs and sausage is decent,the brisker was horrible and the service is mostly friendly...we were there last night and whoever the blond female "manager" is was staring us down, pointing us out to two workers at the counter and would position herself in various places in the dining room and watch us? Pretty odd behavior and enough to keep us away...still can't figure out her problem!
(1)Devin T.
My dad and I go here for lunch just about every time I come home and it never disappoints. Good home cooking in a casual atmosphere. Smiling faces and friendly people everywhere. They also do take out and catering.
(5)Gavin M.
I've only been here once, and the folks that brought me here swear that it was a horribly off-night. I was hankering for some good brisket, so we came here at their recommendation. "Best in town", they said. So we all order our plates at the counter and fill our glasses of tea. When I got my plate of sausage and double brisket, I knew it was not going to be over the top. The sausage was good, but the brisket was DRY. I couldn't eat it with out dousing it in BBQ sauce. Everyone's brisket was the same way. So...we called over an employee who got the owner to come over. The owner took a couple of bites of the brisket and said that, "No, this isn't dry." Whatever - he brought us out a new, big platter with brisket that was a lot moister but was completely full of fat. It's a shame when a Texas BBQ joint can't make a halfway decent slab of brisket.
(2)M. E.
I was in the area and decided to try Joe's for the first time. I ordered the one meat pork ribs plate. I liked the sweet/savory/salty rub but the meat was dry. At first I ordered the fries with it because I wasn't sure how spicy the beans would be. The fries tasted like fish...I guess they use the same fryer for the seafood (buffet) as the fries and they were nasty. My server didn't seem to speak/understand English so she got the floor Mgr. and she was kind enough to bring me a bowl of beans which I did enjoy. A little spice but not too spicy. I also tried their homemade potato chips which were good, but a few were soggy instead of crisp.They did bring a full carafe of tea for just me to refill my drink which was a nice touch. Finding my way out was a little challenging as no one really tells you where to pay or how to get to the cash stand and it's not marked. The cashiers were so busy chatting with each other no one bothered to say "Hi how was your meal?" or "thank you" or anything. Overall for a $19 dollar lunch it was just OK but nothing to take a half hour drive back to Alvin for.
(3)Jeremy T.
I stopped in after visiting a client site in the area on my drive back to houston. Id been here several times over the last 20 or so years, so i knew it'd be another great meal. Upon getting out of my car, one can smell the smoke from the pits in the air. This is one of the finest smelling parking lots in texas, id have to say. Just based on that, id give it 5 stars. I ordered the chopped beef special which comes with baked beans ($5). A pretty good deal for a large sandwich with chopped brisket that's fairly fatty. They have opened a new seating area on the west side of the dining room and a new procedure for paying fr your meal, which is done when you are finished. Grab a homemade beef jerky on your way out for later!
(4)Dustin G.
Just had their seafood buffet. Hands down best catfish ever. Ever! Everything was amazing. Froglegs tastes awesome. Not gamey. Shrimp was good. Étouffée was great. Highly recommend.
(5)Mark M.
I was driving through Alvin and decided to give Joe's a try. I ordered the 2 meat plate (brisket and sausage), I found it was nice that they include 3 sides with your order (potato salad, cole slaw, and beans). First off the service was good, much better than what I've read about in previous reviews. The staff always kept my ice tea refilled and they checked on me throughout my meal to see if there was anything I needed. Prices are average for a BBQ place. No lower or higher than anywhere else in the Houston area. They however do serve you generous portions compared to most other places. However the food itself leaves much to be desired. The brisket was bland and dry, and not quite as tender or smoky as you would expect from a reputable Texas BBQ joint. The sausage was decent. The cole slaw, and potato salad were ok. The beans were my favorite part, very tasty. One thing I will give them is their presentation is very impressive, the way it is served and how it looks on the plate. Very nice and neat. Almost like it's getting ready for a photo shoot. All in all, it was average. Not somewhere I would make a special trip to eat at. But if you're in the area and need a bbq fix, then stop by.
(3)Mike H.
Pretty good BBQ at a fair price. The atmosphere is pretty rustic but fits the place well. They've got a pretty good breakfast next door on the weekends.
(4)Austin M.
Decent BBQ but not the greatest. A little pricey even for que. The portions are huge and the sauce taste good. They have a jalapeño/onion/pickle bar just like most Texas BBQ places. Usually pretty packed up the wait for your food isn't bad. I would recommend it for people not looking to leave Alvin. If you're OK with driving somewhere else though Rudy's is on i-45 about 20 mins East of town.
(4)Lasairiona M.
Walk in, go left, order, collect food, sit, eat food, pay on exit. Things I like about this place: The manager - he came over to introduce himself to our group of 9, he was very friendly and willing to help if we needed it, he was funny and friendly and our group enjoyed him approaching us to see how we were doing. The potato salad. I don't tend to like potato salad, but I demolished mine and almost went back for more. The onion rings (hubby gave up 2 of his sides to take some rings) and they are delicious!! The bread drawer - I only found this cause some guy in front of me used it, warm bread available throughout your meal is great. And the bread is big enough to make sausage sandwiches with (which really isn't important to anyone but my UK friends and I!) The brisket was tasty. Things I don't like: The drinks machine is behind the counter and since you're drinking out of a mason jar, you need refills more frequently. They don't ask what sides you'd like and instead assume you want potato salad, beans and coleslaw - I'd have quite liked something else, but don't feel like I was given an option. I like having an open counter for sides that you can pick what you want. The meat they have on offer isn't listed on the menu, so they ask what 2 meats you want (if you pick a 2 meat plate) and I had to guess. They cover the meat in sauce - they don't tell you this ahead of time, and, thankfully the sauce was nice, but for first-timers, they will pour sauce over your meat. The skin of the sausage is tough and unyielding and I wasn't thrilled with the chicken. It's definitely 'real' bbq and a good experience, we'd go back if we were passing.
(4)Chris A.
So first let me mention how amazing the restaurants decor is, there is something about walking into this place that automatically makes me feel like a Texan. There is a whole bunch of large animals heads looking at you while you eat your meal and the cow references all around the restaurant make me remember what a Barbecue really is. The food was great, the steak that I ordered was really rare which isn't a bad thing, but it was the type of rare meat that takes forever to chew. Normally I wouldn't complain about a steak being slightly undercooked but I ordered a 18 ounce cowboy steak with a baked potato so it gave the food time to cool down making the steak nearly impossible to chew towards the end, almost a gum like texture. Besides that the steak tasted really good and the baked potato was great, I would definitely recommend this place.
(4)Patrick S.
The food is great! They have been around forever and have always made top quality BBQ. Try the breakfast buffet at their place next door, you'll be glad you did!
(5)John F.
Great Food. Dad and I stepped in for some BBQ and both had the seafood buffet. It's apparent that the quality of the food is their priority. Everything was fried golden goodness. Not one item was over cooked. They have a cobbler and real ice cream bar, but we were too stuffed to try it this round.
(5)Talisa A.
For my first time here, I overall had a great experience. I deducted a star, because a couple of the staff was a bit rude, but not everyone. My toddler had the pulled pork Kids' Plate. Her beans were a bit spicy, but it's the first time I have seen her eat meat other than chicken! I also had pulled pork, but as a sandwich. I also had their potato chip cup. My toddler kept stealing my chips as they were tasty. They were busy and we wound up sharing a table with a kind gentleman, who also felt a bit bad for taking up a table for 6 for 1. We had a fun time chatting and I learned from him how to get extra refills and how to pay my bill afterwards. At checkout, we also bought a couple pieces of rock candy. They were sweet and actually fairly easy to bite off the stick. It was also the first time my toddler has ever tried rock candy, so she was ecstatic. We'd definitely come again.
(4)Felicia B.
Been coming here for 10yrs plus & the food is not what it use to be. A group of 5 & no one liked their food. I had a baked potato & the meat/sauce looked like sloppy joe & tasted horrible. This place gets packed & very busy. With that being said the staff is so busy & in a hurry they forget about customer service & putting a smile on their face.
(3)Mario B.
So looking at my profile I realized I looked like a negative Nelly since all reviews I have on here are bad so I decided to leave a few good ones to balance out the world of Yelp. Joe's is THE BBQ spot! I have been to a lot of BBQ places and let me tell you. Hands down, Joe's is the best BBQ I've had and the most bang for your buck. Triple meat of your choice, potato salad, coleslaw and beans for under $20 bucks and they do pile it on. I even convinced my vegetarian girlfriend to go with me for a baked potato. Ever in the Alvin area, you've gotta stop in.
(5)Maria K.
Grabbed some sliced beef sandwiches on our way to Galveston. Those things are ginormous, and the brisket is just so perfect! We are definitely coming back next time we drive on that neck of the woods!!!
(4)Keith B.
Recently had Joe's cater after a funeral for my mother and what an amazing job they did. My business partner ordered it for my family and everything was included. I can with brisket, chicken, potato salad, bread, sweet tea and even the ice , cups and plates. What a first class operation, my family has always liked joe's bbq but this was just way beyond expectations.
(5)John P.
Had the all you could eat chicken fried steak and the sliced beef brisket. The chicken fried steak was done perfectly, it was tender and very tasty.The sliced brisket melted in your mouth. It was not dry it was moist and very tender. The macaroni and cheese is to die for! I could've eaten the gallon. Beer is cold, service I s great, prices are right. You cannot go wrong here. One last thing; do not skip the mashed potatoes and cream gravy. They are better than grandma makes!
(4)Brent K.
I was disappointed. I got the 3 meat plate, pork ribs, brisket, and jalapeño sausage. The sausage was the only thing worth eating. Both brisket and ribs were dry, overcooked. I'll try them again but they need to make sure they are serving good food. I should've sent it back but I was with a large corporate group and we were on a tight schedule.
(1)Kurllenne M.
OMG! Went to this spot for breakfast on a Saturday!!! Delicious!! Texas shaped waffles! All you can eat!! The staff is extra friendly. You feel like you are family and at someone's home.
(5)Karl H.
Joe's catfish and chicken fried steak are outstanding. Highly recommend these choices and in all you can eat as well. Staff is very friendly and the mashed potatoes are terrific as well. I would not recommend their barbeque, however. I had it once and it was very dry, overcooked and not good at all. Gonna give it a five star for the two plates of catfish and chicken fried steak, which is probably the best I have ever eaten.
(5)Chelsea M.
Just visited Joe's when we were in Alvin this past week again and man did the quality go down :( The cheese on the bbq nachos is no longer a tasty melty nacho cheese. It tasted just like a Velveeta type cheese. I posted a pic of the bbq nachos on here about a month ago when I didnt know they had changed. Unfortunately, they don't look as good or taste as good as they didn't when that pic was taken 2yrs ago. The brisket that was ordered was also incredibly fatty! The guy gave her extra because he said it was a little fatty, but he ended up giving her a piece that was virtually all fat! That was a huge disappointment seeing as we traveled all the way from MN, and had anticipated a wonderful experience. That's too bad, but we at least picked up a couple things of their classic steak seasoning with thankfully didn't change.
(2)Megan C.
i would make the hour drive again to have this BBQ
(4)Jesse S.
Joes BBQ has been open for a while now and has been the go to place for local BBQ. In its heyday it was always lines out the door award winning BBQ. However in the last couple of years it seems they have lost their mojo. It definitely is not award winning. Brisket is usually dry, beans are bland, sausage is mediocre, and ribs are tough. If you just have to have BBQ and aren't willing to drive to Pearland then Joe's BBQ will do.
(2)Katie W.
Anyplace that has a moose head and a buffalo head on the wall has to be an interesting place. I got the sliced brisket sandwich with onion rings on the side. The roll was fantastic, but the meat was dry and tough. The onion rings were perfection. The drink refilling situation is awkward. And I feel like everything is sort of secret, the ice cream is free for kids, but there is no way to know that. There is a bread drawer, but the only way I realized it was watching someone else grab a slice. And you pay after you eat, even though it is counter service. The potato chips with my daughter's meal were homemade and tasted great.
(3)Mr C.
The food and service is always good. The seafood buffet on Fridays is a must try. Nice atmosphere and friendly employees.
(4)Lisa F.
We live in Austin, but I grew up in Alvin and saw Joe's grow from a small meat market to this great place. Where to start? First we have to stay at least 3 days in the area to truly appreciate all that Joe's has to offer. First and foremost: the chicken Fried Steak is the best you will have anywhere! I challenge you to tell me of a place that I can get to in Texas or any place else that has as good or better. I think the secret is ... Joe's figured out a good Chicken Fried Steak needs to be properly seasoned and fried like chicken. That light fluffy fry. Also, the meat has to be good. Tender or tenderized and not to thin. And the gravy is also very good. The Chicken Fried Steaks I have had here over the years cannot be beat and believe me I have followed up on the leads I have been given and have only left disappointed. A close second: the stuffed BBQ potato. It is good for at least 2 meals and I am not sure which is better the fresh or the day old. The day old is great because the flavors really meld. So the hint here is: Get a CFS for your fresh meal and order a BBQ stuffed potato to go. Third- Their brisket has a great smokey flavor. There are 2 types the lean, mean, tough and dry for those who like that or the fattier type. You choose based on your looks. And there is a fourth option...their all you can eat Seafood. I had this one time. Usually when we go to Joes we have already had our fill of seafood at the coast. But, if I could not do that and had enough days to get through the rest I would probably do that. So why 4 stars??? the glasses for drinks. They used to be as big. Now they are much smaller and refills seem to be hard to come by. But the food is so good and filling, I feel it is OK to take a breather and get up to find someone to refill it.
(4)micah K.
The sides are all pretty good. The portions are very big. But the meat is dry. I've been here twice now and been underwhelmed with the Turkey, Sausage, Pulled Pork, Ribs, and Brisket. It was all very dry on both occasions. The only way it was edible was to other it in BBQ sauce, which was average. I love Texas BBQ. This is some of the worst that I've had though.
(2)Amy H.
We stopped in based on the reviews. They were out of pork ribs which left us scrambling to decide what we wanted. The smoked turkey was good as we're the fries but I was a little perplexed as to why they stuck a big 'ol of beans on the kids plate. Husband and I ended up with the 2 meat plates and each had pulled pork and brisket. The portions are huge, but the flavor was a little underwhelming. Could be because we prefer Kanas City style sauce. The brisket and pork were plenty moist. But again the portions were huge and we ended up taking home more than we ate at the restaurant. It was worth a try but we probably won't be back.
(3)Franco R.
By far the best Barbeque Baked Potato I've ever had. Ordered all the way but was not able to finish it. One day I'll go back a little hungrier.. I'd say it's well worth the drive.
(5)Kirk D.
Just average ! Average BBQ not great and not bad. The iced tea they rave about is really bad, no flavor ! I feel the price is too high for the quality.
(3)Dale J.
Awesome barbecue always a great place to get any home cooking. You can also see the history of the Texas Rangers and local town legend Nolan Ryan pictures on the wall and tables. JOE'S bbq is a place where everyone in town meets up for almost every event.
(5)Cameron K.
We saw a little blurb about this place on Fox 26 News on Friday so we decided to try it out for lunch. It was so worth the drive. During non-traffic times, it takes about 35 minutes to get here from downtown Houston. Laid out in a rustic log cabin setting, there is a small buffet and tempting salad bar along with all of the items on the menu. You really can't go bad with any choice here. My wife had the chopped beef sandwich and I had the Friday special seafood buffett. Both were quite good. The chopped beef was very tasty. The seafood buffet was pretty good. Served fried fish, fried popcorn shrimp, frog legs, boudin balls, hushpuppies, gumbo and red beans & rice. The red beans and rice were outstanding. Brought back memories of my Aunt making that for us when she lived in Louisiana. ALSO, do yourself a favor and get an order of onion rings. You won't be disappointed. We will definetely return to try the brisket and ribs.
(4)P F.
Was a five star bbq place. The Joe retried. Big portions but doesn't really hit the spot when you're craving really good bbq
(2)Lauren M.
I found the BBQ here to be ok but not fabulous. I had brisket and about half of mine was quite dry. The sauce helped but I prefer a little sweetness in my sauce. The portion was quite generous. The slaw was nice and crunchy. The beans were smokey and unique. The sweet tea was not sweet by southern standards. All in all, not a bad meal, just unremarkable.
(3)Jen K.
Absolutely amazing! Best home cooked food I've had in a long time! The place is extremely clean! I'm looking forward to going back as soon as possible!
(5)Alan S.
Who would expect this place to have good seafood??? But it did! They had an "all-you-can-eat" sea food setup today and I thought, why the heck not. The fried catfish and fried shrimp were very good, better then some seafood restaurants I've been to. The cornbread muffins were also quite good, and what I could only guess were boudin balls were full of flavor. The rest of the stuff, was average... but for $13 it was different and nice. I'll defiantly hit this place up again and maybe go for the stuffed potato next time, it looked quite good as well!
(4)Roxanne K.
Have mercy... seriously? I am a lover of pulled pork like no other.... This place left me disgusted! I was SO excited to go here and get blown away and was anything but. I can't even express how bad it was. Think of boiled pork, chopped but not pulled and toss on a plate with some of the worse sauce ever. You get this heaping pile of meat and I left almost all of it behind. What a waste and what a disgrace... perhaps I had a one off experience... but I doubt it seeing a review like mine around the same time. Maybe something has happened in the kitchen. Beans were salty, slaw was meh and potato salad probably comes from a tub. I was just sickened... what a disappointment, how could you do it to me Joe?
(1)Matthew C.
This is the second time I have been to Joe's and it definitely won't be my last. Let me first say, if you leave hungry - you might have a potential career in competitive eating. I note this because I have a big appetite. My meal today consisted of brisket and turkey. I really feel like you can judge a BBQ place in Texas by having an establishments brisket. In this case, it was well above average. For those of you who like fattier varieties - this is probably not for you. Joe's brisket shades more on the lean side, but it is very moist and flavorful. It is not smoke heavy, seems just right. I think I would like a little more pop via spice, but I am being picky. The smoked turkey was really something to behold. Wow, I wish I could have this on Thanksgiving! It was very moist and had the perfect smoke flavor. Sauce comes on the side - how it should be served. It is more vinegar than sweet and almost has a smoke flavor to it. My sides were great. The beans had a slight bacon note. They are not spicy. The coleslaw was just to my liking. It was crisp and fresh tasting and very light on the Mayo. You actually get 3 sides with a meal - again, quantity, but I opted for just two. They also have a daily special just about every day. Typically of the all you can eat variety. Today's looked appealing - all you can eat CFS. It also included cobbler and ice cream for $10. I wanted to review the BBQ, but looking at others tables - very appealing. Last thing, I had 3 different employees greet me and ask me about my meal. Call me old school, but I really appreciate that. Joe's I will be back!
(5)Junho S.
After hearing about Joe's from radio hosts I had to try this place out. I got the two meat platter (Brisket and Jalapeno Sausage). Beans, Cole Slaw, and Potato Salad comes with the platter. I'll start with the staff at the restaurant. They were awesome! Friendly and very helpful. Made you feel welcome and comfortable there. The bbq on the other hand was a different story. The brisket had a nice red smoke ring around it but was a little tough. The sausage was dried out almost like jerky. Both had good flavor but was not up to par in tenderness. The BBQ sauce was very watery and didnt hold on to the meat well. The flavor of the BBQ sauce was good but was a little too runny for my taste. The sides that came with the platter was tasty. Not too much mayo and not too tangy. Just right. I actually prefer my potato salad and cole slaw German Style (without mayo). Joe's made it well with the right blend of mayo. If I were to rate this only on the BBQ it would have been two stars. But thanks to the awesome staff and side dishes I had to bump it up to three stars. I rate based on the whole experience. "The BBQ smoke smelled right...but didnt taste right. Asi Asi."
(3)Nick R.
The Wife and I visited this restaurant last weekend. It was packed; we came for a late dinner. My Wife had the baked potato all the way with beef on top. I had the chicken fried steak (large portion) and it was big. Depending on one's appetite it could feed for a few meals maybe three for big eaters or four for smaller eaters. There are two sizes which can be ordered. Also, sides were baked potato all the way and ice tea in mason jars. Let's just say individuals will not lose any weight by eating this dish but it was good vs the bar-b-q I have had here - won't be ordering that again here. However, the CFS was pretty decent; I would order it again for sure! The Wife did like here baked potato and would order it again as well. The price was modestly priced, think we got out with less than $18 for two on this visit.
(3)Erik T.
Absolutely the best BBQ I have had. Friendly staff, great food! A must do when in the Houston area.
(5)Candace W.
The best barbecue baked potato I've ever had and I'm not really a fan of barbecue! They cook their potatoes outside in the pit and they are so soft and delicious. And HUGE. Plan on having leftovers if you order this. My favorite part? It's good food in Alvin. Hmmm...who'da thunk?
(4)Roxy F.
Too busy. Baked potatoes arent as big as expected. Try kelleys country cookin restaurant baked potatoes.yikes!! I think its pricey for food quality and taste.
(2)Dana C.
Best breakfast buffet ever!
(4)Stacy A.
I've been going to Joe's for years! It's always delicious, fresh, and fast. We always bring people coming into town here for authentic Texas BBQ.
(5)J W.
Huge baked potatoes. Really good brisket.
(4)danielle w.
Know what my favorite thing is about this place? I mean, aside from the bad ass bbq that they serve up and the wild boar, deer & javalina heads on the wall? The floors. The old, creaky and squeaky wooden floors. Every time I walk inside of Joe's BBQ I am taken back to my childhood. My wonderful bbq eating childhood. My parents and siblings used to go to Joe's quite a bit when my dad worked out in the Alvin/Manvel area in Texas in petroleum sales. (Would there be anything else to do there, really?) My whole life I've been going here and it's not changed for the worse, in fact, it's not changed at all. This last time we were in Houston visiting family, I all but forced my parents in the car and demanded Joe's. (Not really, I asked politely...kind of). My stomach was growling when we pulled in the parking lot and I knew I was ready for old trusty. I always, always get the "special baked potato". It's a massive meteor sized tater stuffed with butter, sour cream, green onions, bacon and oh yes, a MOUND of hot chopped beef, all topped off with cheddar cheese. It was just as I had remembered. The potato was tender and the meat was amazing. The sauce is amazing and the meat is amazing and everything about this potato was STILL amazing....20 years later...this place is STILL my favorite. It's your no frills kind of southern, down home bbq in a old wooden house with old wooden floors. You walk up, pick your poison, grab it and go sit. *I can recommend the pulled pork, pork ribs (which my dad might share, just depends) and the chopped beef. Those are the only things I've had. The potato remains KING of all. Whenever you're ready to throw in the towel at Joe's...DON'T. Go up to the same spot where you grabbed your food and look to the right at the *ALL YOU CAN EAT COBBLER and ICE CREAM* That's right...all you can eat. Believe me, after eating a meal, it'll be tough, but I can always muster enough strength to go get a bowl. They always have peach and it is by far the best, the the apple and cherry are great too. Every good southern girl knows that the crust is everyone's favorite and the people at Joe's obviously know that too because it's great. I know, this is a long review, but I had to do it. This place is worth the road trip. I promise you. Nothing at Joe's has changed. The prices are the same since I can remember, the service is great and the food is spot on! The cute little store attached to Joe's is really neat, but I do believe they may have gone a little Vera Bradley crazy in there. It used to be more candles, cutsie little things, but it's gone a bit more up scale and higher price for my liking. GO TO JOE'S. Eat at Joe's, eat a lot. Then, eat some cobbler and just sit for a while. You'll need to. I normally hate that "SO FULL" feeling, but not when I go here. I bask in it!
(5)April C.
Brisket was ok. It did not taste like they smoked it so maybe they boiled it first. Nothing special. Service was good. Onion rings are fantastic.
(3)Cole M.
Never in my life had I ever experienced a truly loaded baked potato, but at Joe's I finally understood what a truly loaded baked potato was. Full of smoky and rich bbq with all of the toppings I could think of. The portion was as big as my head and I waddled out the door. The price is no different than typical fast food but you could taste the love of cooking in every bite, I would so go back in a heartbeat.
(5)Mike W.
Joe's was the first three meat plate I fell in love with and a standard by which all others are judged. In fact, It's still the only BBQ joint on my cell phone. When it comes to Q, Joe's is my Capistrano. So what would happen when I returned to my humble roots with my big city yelp glasses on? I was was nervous to find out. To provide some context, realize that Joe's is THE place to eat in the greater Alvin area. Featured prominently on Highway 6 just before Highway 35, it enjoys a steady stream of customers in it's large barn of barbecue (2000 daily). Hell, it even has a gift shop next door that I've never visited in the 20+ years I've been coming here. But near as I can tell, it features various accoutrement of the scented candle and checkered pattern type. Inside of Joe's is a cavernous two storied dining room that features a smorgasbord of taxidermy. You're herded like cattle to where you order and then you move along the line picking up your order and beverage as you go. From there you continue to the condiment table and the bread warmer. Yes, a bread drawer! It's cold by the time you sit down, but at least they're trying. It's always fast, courteous, and smooth. You have the option to get the buffet or standards like CFS and the massive BBQ potato, but I go for two things: 3 meat plate or a sliced beef po boy. I'm not going to blow smoke, Joe's isn't the best on the planet. It's good and consistent. Every town in Texas would be lucky to have one, but for me it's more of a sentimental favorite than a "world's greatest" contender. The thinly sliced brisket is generally lean and weii-trimmed. Always tender, it is occasionally a tad dry. The pork ribs are faintly smokey with a maroon lacquer. Tender, but not fall off the bone. The sausage is a pork/beef kielbasa type with good flavor and a crispy casing. I tried the new jalapeno sausage recently and couldn't tell if it was way overcooked or what was happening. Generally all of the above can be downright average, usually good, but never bad. The sides here are great. And they treat you like a respectable human being by offering all three standard sides on their plates. Asking me what two sides I want is like asking which hand I'd like to keep. The pinto beans are always warm and perfectly cooked. The cole slaw is a cool dash of mayo cabbage n' carrot crunch. The mayo segues into the mustard kick of the not-too-smooth potato salad. And the cobbler.....oh the cobbler. If the cobbler is wrong, I don't want to be right. This place is serving better than average bbq and great service at a good price. Mix that with a good country vibe and just enough kitsch and it feels like everybody's hometown place for Q.
(4)Hoang-Chau N.
Ribs were okay, I would pick the pork ribs over the huge beef ribs, but the ribs weren't as tender and moist as I'd like. There's a local spot close to my house in Dallas and its way cheaper and is a lot more moist (Slab's) but if you want to have a far drive out to somewhere out of this world in Texas go to Lockhart and try Smittys and Kreuz
(3)Holly B.
Hands Down one of the best places I have ever been to get great authentic Texas BBQ. The lodge design is really fun, but what keeps me coming back again and again and again is the amazing food. Best thing I have tried so far: Baked potatoe topped with shredded prok. My husband loves the chicken fried steak. I am glad I dont live close or I might not cook again!
(4)Paul M.
Best barbeque place in Houston. Worth the drive to Alvin.
(4)Bubba B.
I go here every time I'm in Houston. Absolutely the best BBQ I have had. Brisket is awesome!! Great decor inside and the help are always friendly. Don't pass on the cobbler and ice cream!!!! It's great as well.....
(5)trisha h.
I am revoking my previous 5 star review of the JOES Breakfast buffet (This is NOT for the BBQ which is ok its BBQ). The breakfast buffet used to be awesome and inexpensive (I would have paid more) NOW its expensive and food plain old sucks! I could list many reasons not to go there anymore but .................I am not in the mood to list everything. Just very disappointed in the food.
(2)Rachell U.
I am never disappointed with Joe's. I lived in Angleton for years, and everybody is disillusioned by Bo's BBQ. BLAH! Joe's is the place to be. I live in Houston now, and still make the drive for a delicious BBQ baked potato on occasion. LOVE LOVE LOVE Joe's forever and ever.
(5)Merrill G.
I've been eating here for years, and it's just fantastic. I've sampled nearly everything on the menu at this point, and the only things I would never order again are the Po-Boys, the hamburger steaks and the plain ol' hamburger. And even those aren't bad, they're just outshined by everything else you could have gotten. (An aside: the cheeseburger tastes exactly like one from Sonic. Eerie.) As you look around the packed restaurant in the evenings, you'll notice about a third of the people have some sort of meat plate combo. Those are all good. Another third have the ribs, which are also good. Everybody else you see probably has some sort of mountainous pile of BBQ and various condiments in front of them on a giant plate. That is the loaded baked potato and is possibly the best food value in Texas by taste and by poundage. Listen to the people ordering in front of you. Several of them got the baked potato, didn't they? There's a reason for that. Be brave; they'll give you a box for what you can't eat.
(4)Laura L.
Best BBQ I've ever had, anywhere, ever, hands down. I've been eating there for years and will continue as long as we are both in existence! This is the place I always bring people when they come to visit to show them what "real" BBQ tastes like.
(5)Bobbi B.
Ok the dead animals are on the wall, along with Dead snake skin.... Does it flake off on the food, is my first thought. Then... I try to put it out of my mind.... Its just Texas BBQ. The plates are great and the BBQ is wonderful but not really my best. They have a Buffet and I hate Buffet's. So I stear Clear of that. They do have a homemade fudge, and divinity, so if you had a bad something or other. You can recover with the fudge or divinity. There is antiques and gifts shops near by. The Decor of the place is dead animal meets, farm junk and shack look.
(4)Pete S.
Went past Alvin in August of 2004 and stopped by Joe's BBQ and Catering. (That's what it was called back then). The place definitely had the rustic Texan feel to it. Log cabin restauant with hunting motifs. The brisket here was good from what I can remember. It was part of the three item combo. It was flavorful and juicy. I also remember the salad bar included chicken strips as one of the choices. I have never seen that before but it was a good thing. Overall, it was good eats, price was a little bit high for the portions I got compared to other Houston BBQs but worth trying.
(4)Rex K.
Best BBQ in the Alvin region, hands down. Sauce is good too. Never done the buffet, but don't know why you would when the sandwich costs 4-5.
(4)Nichol K.
For those of you who can't handle the deer and moose heads on the wall...get over it, you are there for the food. Just as a comfort, I do know that they clean the animals with some type of suctioning tool a few times a year so fret not. The owner, Joe Saladino, has his own ranch and also owns his own meat market...the man knows how to handle his meat, LOL. He has the best BBQ sauce around, not too sweet and not too vinegary. They start their smoker pits, kept outback, early every morning and the smell is wonderful. They serve sausage, brisket, steak, poboys, onion rings to die for, salads, HUGE bbq baked potatoes, the VERY BEST chicken fried steak around (not the kind that is more batter and less meat), these steaks are huge and very meaty, and many other excellent menu items to choose from. In addition to the entrees, they have fresh baked cobblers, blue bell ice cream and these big cookies that they bake there and sale at the front register when you leave. The service is Texas friendly, one of the waitresses has been working there since I was 10 years old, it is just a real family friendly kind of place but not so friendly that it is irritating. Try it out! Great prices, huge portions and a very rustic Texas experience.
(5)J-Mattie M.
I was so looking forward to some pork ribs when I happened upon Alvin and then Joes. The set-up is awkward and no one offered to help me. I was walking around like a chicken with its head cut off. I ended up at the back cashier. She then told me that if I wanted to dine in I'm in the wrong area. I proceeded back to the front and ordered pork ribs even though they had all you can eat beef ribs. I saw many orders of beef ribs but was happy that i didnt order them because they looked like an extremely large animal's legs. My pork ribs came out shortly. I began to eat them, they were extremely bland and something didnt feel right. Btw...no one ever came to my table until i was finally able to get someone's attention for a to-go box and cup. When i got to my car i immediately felt ill. To make a long story short, that was earlier today and im still vomiting with diarhea. I dont mean to gross anyone out but my poop is liquid and every 5 minutes. This is really scary and if i dont feel bettet soon i will go to the emergency room. Needless to say i will never ever ever eat there again. I dont even like Alvin as a result of this experiece. Pork ribs are my favorite food and i dont know if i can ever eat them again! Sad face.
(1)jason j.
Above average bbq and chicken fried steak. One of the better places to eat in Alvin. The buffet portion can be hit or miss. The salad bar is adequate.
(4)Alexandra M.
First food experience visiting Texas, and if I came again, this would be my first stop again. I had a 16 oz ribeye. It was so good, I felt like they killed the cow in the back and butchered it fresh.
(5)John H.
Joe's has my favorite smoked pork in the area. Its pretty typical Texas decor and food. I would definitely recommend them as there are alot of hit or miss BBQ joints.The Friday night buffet is good. I love the boudin balls and stuffed crabs. Sounds odd but they always have good tea too.
(4)Alan M.
Ate at Joe's a couple times this past week while in the area on travel, at the suggestion of a local colleague. I tried all sorts of stuff. Chicken was awesome, pork links only okay (I expected more heat out of the jalapeno links), ribs were great. I was surprised by the brisket because someone told me while I was visiting that BBQ places in Texas really focus their attention on their brisket, and it wasn't very tender. Prices were good, potato salad and coleslaw sides were as good as any I've ever had. I'd go back. I'd just stay away from links and the brisket.
(4)Meagan P.
Joe's has been in Alvin for years. It's awesome for chopped BBQ beef baked potatoes, but I would call their BBQ sub-par. This definitely isn't the best, but it will do if you are craving BBQ while you're in this part of Alvin. When you actually walk into Joe's you will notice the decor, almost like you stepped into a time warp. It is very laid back and casual. The salad bar is pretty decent if you aren't in the mood for BBQ also.
(3)Carlos M.
All you can eat Beef Ribs!!! Enough Said The best BBQ in all the Houston Area . Also an Alvin Institution for as long as I can remember .
(5)Michael P.
Had my first visit this past weekend and here's pretty much how that went: $14.95 for all you can eat ribs special?! What!? No questions just YES, please! Oh...they're beef ribs...and they're tough as hell...and lacking in that flavor stuff (tho the sauce was pretty good). Joe, you bastard temptress. Needless to say, I was none too impressed and did not have all I could eat. To make matters worse, all around me sat the more restrained people who were loving their non-all you could eat, but more importantly delicious, pork ribs while I gnawed on their leathery bovine counterparts. The seafood buffet actually looked pretty good as well (also AYCE & $14.95). Once bitten, twice shy. Next time I see "all you can eat" and "ribs" in the same sentence, I'll have enough willpower to ask which kind of ribs I'd get. On my next visit to Joe's however, I'll opt for the pork ribs or the seafood.
(2)Cara L.
We came here on a whim one day after spending the day in the area. It reminded me of your typical Texas BBQ joint. Old decor everywhere, pay at the counter, average 3 meat platters, etc. When we went it was all you can eat ribs on a Saturday. I went for the brisket sandwich (which was SO messy). It tasted good, but didn't blow me away. The sweet potato fries were just okay. Overall the place isn't spectacular but you get a lot of food for a modest price and the service was good. If you're ever in Alvin, give it a try - but go for the ribs because they looked really good even though I didn't get the chance to try one! I definitely had a case of "food envy" when the rest of my table orded them.
(3)Diane W.
We found this place for the first time tonight in our way to Galveston. The beef ribs were very good, potato salad was awesome and so was the cole slaw. Beans...not so great. Baked stuffed potatoes are huge and very good. Seafood Buffet was ok although everything was fried. The fried catfish was wonderful. The decor was so cute with historical photos on the wall and worth the trip. A definite good stop for a fun and causal lunch or dinner.
(4)Tim S.
McDonalds' McRib, iis better then this place. Service is horrible. First visit had brisket and sausage, no flavor at all. Second visit had all you can eat ribs, again, no flavor; and no meat. The ribs I had sure didn't look like the pictures posted here.
(1)Susan H.
Holy Moly what a find... after a day in a courthouse sitting with a friend and seeing the "People of Walmart" crowded in a Bazoria County courthouse this definitely put a nice cap on the end of the day. My friend enjoyed the overly stuffed brisket baked potato and I had ham and ribs. I did get to sample the potato and it was great. Mine was way tooooo much for me but I wanted to keep eating and eating. I think the only thing I would give them 4 stars on would be the cole slaw. Everything else was great! Definitely don't want to go sit in that courthouse again people watching but I would drive to Alvin for another feast at Joe's!
(5)David N.
Average simple 3 meat plate. Nothing spectacular, but not terrible. I also had an order of sweet potato fries which were just meh also. The brisket is sliced thin but stays moist. For out this far I was hoping for a little bit more.
(3)Russell P.
EVERY visit i make from so cal its mandatory that i stop by joes for bbq...maybe not for the uppity yup type because its a throwback bbq joint, but if u love great food and excellent smiles i HIGHLY RECOMMEND JOES IN ALVIN!!!!!!
(5)Mary N.
Joe's is an Alvin tradition. The prices are reasonable and recent renovation helped customer traffic flow to the cash register. Decor is Texas rustic. No issues with service on moderately busy days. Kids feel welcome. The salad bar is limited to basic ingredients. The lettuce is fresh, but the boiled egg pieces were tasteless with a small piece of shell in my serving. The steak is cooked as ordered, but a little tough. To be fair, steak price is in line with the quality. Surprisingly good is the turkey and loaded baked potatoes.They accomodate my request for shredded cheddar on nachos without complaint. Food bar is hit or miss. It can be tasty. Our family will pop in to look at the food bar or grab a burger to escape fast fast food. We travel out of Alvin when we are hungry for really good BBQ.
(2)Nancy G.
I absolutely love this place the ribs are too die for as well as their baked potatoes! good place to take a family for dinner
(4)Marcelina B.
My family enjoys Joe's BBQ every time we go. My favorite is the loaded potato, so yummy and ginormous. Burgers are great and fresh and the jalapeño bread is to die for especially when you dip it in their BBQ sauce.
(5)Addison G.
My Wife is from the Friendswood area and every time we go back to visit family we eat at Joe's. It's awesome! Always good customer service and moderately priced. The food is quality too. Exactly what you'd expect from Texas BBQ. If you are driving through Alvin or near the area definitely go by!
(5)Dylan H.
Small, bland, and expensive. I'd try the Kelly's down the street before coming to this buffet again.
(2)Joe L.
Good looking place nice decorations. Lady taking my order would rather play with a co worker than take my order. She tells the workers next to her my order. I then have an older Hispanic guy in a bad mood slides my plate towards me. Lady that gave me my ice tea very nice. I sit down nice clean place so now it's time to test and see what everyone is talking about. The beans needed more salt tasted like watered down ranch style beans. The potato salad awesome. The sausage was dry and the brisket was dry. BBQ sauce was good. So all in all they need better employees and better food. I was there on Friday may 17 at 1 pm. No excuse for bad food. I should of had the fish it looked better. Will not be going back too bad.
(1)