Tom’s BBQ

Food was well priced and you got a lot of it! Service was great and the people were friendly. The atmosphere was positive and the location is central to several different things you would want to do. The food was ok, I would eat here again and give it a second try!

Tom’s BBQ never disappoints! They were chosen as a local favorite to feature at an event I host weekly. My guests loved the pulled pork. Yay and as always the customer service was fantastic. My catering order was prepared and ready on time and delivered with a smile. Can you get better than that? Best in Phoenix!

I’ve been many times and my favorite is the Mac daddy. It’s macaroni and cheese with shredded pork on top. I love the jalapeño mac and cheese and the spicy pulled pork myself. It’s enough meat and pasta I got a side of cornbread absolutely love their cornbread very homemade. I love this place I love the décor I love the music love the food and I will continue going back.

This is a local favorite from what I heard. I was in the neighborhood and wanted to try it. It’s a small place but the feel is so inviting and friendly and they have the «A» on the window which means they get a clean bill from food inspectors which is always a plus to see. The menu is really good from sandwiches to meals. I tried the pulled pork sandwich with Cole slaw and macaroni and cheese. I believe they make their own barbecue sauce and it’s really good. The pork was moist and piled on a potato bun. Adding the sauce made it even better. I’m a Cole slaw snob so I’m really picky and this was super good. The Mac and cheese however was not a favorite of mine. I took a bite and it tastes like pasta mixed with velveeta cheese. It wasn’t good and I sent it back and got a mother Cole slaw. All in all my experience was really good. The barbecue is super good. I’ll be returning for sure to try the Rob’s.

A truly disappointment! I order the Rib tip dinner and was truly excited, until I took a bit. The tips tastes like they had been reheated a couple of times.

I’m going to have to agree with other reviews. If you have to smother your BBQ brisket in BBQ sauce there’s something terribly wrong… got the chopped brisket which I’ve never seen on a BBQ menu or at a bbq place before. I also got burt ends and sliced brisket and I have to say blah. The burt ends and chopped brisket tasted like microwaved meat. You know how the microwave makes certain meats taste just a little funny. Well that’s how my burnt ends and chopped brisket tasted like. The burnt ends were also overly salted not enough pepper on the bark. It all really lacked a smoky flavor. The sliced brisket was very tender. But it was also smothered in BBQ sauce and the pieces that didn’t have BBQ sauce on them tasted very plain and like there was no seasoning on the outside of the meat. I’m guessing they smother the brisket in BBQ sauce to compensate for taste. Overall I see myself never coming here again.

Pretty good Italian beef, little dry, but good. Fries were a tad over cooked. Peach cobbler was not best ever, but good. The best part was the hidden bathrooms! The womans bathroom was hidden behind an old phone booth. The mens, behind a fake soda machine.

This review applies only to this location. Two of the Tom’s BBQ places are owned by the father, and two are owned by the son. This location is owned by the son.
Companion and I arrived for lunch. Companion ordered the chicken sandwich, jalapeño mac and cheese, a brownie, and a drink.
I ordered a burnt end sandwich, cole slaw, and a drink.
Our first problem was that unlike the fathers locations the sons do not accept Amex. One would expect that in a chain using the same name the same rules would apply. We found a table and in due course our food arrived.
Companion’s chicken was overcooked and dry. Some of it was left behind as being unpalatable. Next was the mac and cheese. Unfortunately, it too was way overcooked with the noodles being just mush. It was taken home in the hopes that refrigerating it might firm it up and at least allow it to be deep fried. The brownie was the highlight of the meal, being a nice portion of cake with an excellent chocolate flavor and texture.
My burnt ends lived up to their name and were truly burnt. Having eaten burnt ends in many places before, I was familiar with what they were supposed to be, and the burnt refers to being seasoned and cooked twice. They are not usually dry and/​or actually burnt. I ended up covering them in BBQ sauce so that I could get them down. The cole slaw was excellent and seemed to be the same recipe used in the other stores.
The restaurant was reasonably clean and the restrooms (which are quite unusual) were properly stocked and reasonably clean.
I was fairly disappointed on this occasion as I have eaten at other Tom’s and never had food like this.
Two stars for a reasonably clean experience and a great brownie.

I love eating at this location. The staff treat you with warmth and help you make the right choice. I love their hot BBQ sauce but the mild is just as good. The place has a genuine BBQ establishment decour. Its fun and makes you feel comfortable to dig in and get messy. They even have a competive eating contest where they pay for your meal if you can eat it all in a certain amount of time. If you win your picture goes on the wall too.

There’s something seriously wrong with a place that serves brisket slathered in bar-​b-​que sauce. Being from Texas, sauce is considered an insult to the cook. Ordered a pound of brisket and was told it would ‘dry out’ without the sauce. It didn’t need any encouragement… the whole pound was completely dry. You could tell they smoked it very little (just a smidgeon of a smoke ring) and without any love. They also apparently cut off all the fat prior to smoking and that is what gives this cut of meat its moistness. Anyway, threw it in the garbage. It was absolutely awful.

Been here now over a dozen times. Consistently good food and service. And the people there are fantastic.

Wow! I never thought I would find good BBQ in Arizona but I does! This place Toms BBQ rocks and i bought the tee shirt too!

The food is excellent I cannot believe the flavor on the barbecue sauce. The meat was perfectly cooked and seasoned — very smoky and delicious. I like the coleslaw and had just the right amount of sauce on it — which is surprisingly hard to get right for so many restaurants!
I give extra points for the bathroom experience. I don’t want to give away the secret, but you have to check out the ladies room! OK the men’s room is pretty fun too, and I admit to peeking in when no one was in there!

It’s ok here. Nothing great. The potato salad and slaw appears store bought and not homemade. The pulled pork was VERY salty and tasted like it was repeatedly heated up.

Well, Unilocal… My wife and I didn’t feel like heating up the house by cooking again and we decided to get take-​out from one of our favorite barbecue places, Tom’s. Instead of getting the same old standby, I decided to try the Italian beef this time. I was hoping for the best but expecting the worst, as to not get my hopes up. I got it with the spicy stuff on top that I won’t attempt to spell. This was an amazing Italian beef! Not only was the size large but the bread was delicious as well and able to hold up to the weight of the sandwich. I’ll be back for the Italian beef again… You’re missing out of you don’t try it!!!

Tried the brisket and the ribs on two separate occasions. Food was overpriced, over cooked and was very dry. Even though it was drowning in BBQ sauce, it still didn’t have much flavor.
Definitely wouldn’t recommend this place if you are a true meat lover.

Some of the best BBQ in the valley the ambiance is unique I know this sounds funky but be sure to check out the restrooms. The music is bluesy and not too loud. The service is friendly and takes reasonable time. Great for kids.

Awesome atmosphere. Bath too is hidden and fun. Menu is big. Lots of options. Specials are well priced. BBQ sauce is served hot.
The best part is the food!!! Absolutely AMAZING. Great smokey flavor.

BBQ is one of my favorite past times. The food here is pretty good but nothing to write home about. Maybe the menu is just too big or they have spread themselves a little too thin.
Inside is decorated with all sorts of items from the Chicago area. The walls are covered with plenty to look at and they even have an old timey phone booth in the back section. Ring ring!
Been here a few times and usually get some of the Brisket and possible a Hot Link. The meat is always tender and not dry like other places. The BBQ sauce is just a little too sweet for this bad boy. Would like to see a sauce with less stickiness per square inch. Maybe there is just too much molasses or corn syrup in there.
They also offer a large variety of many of the Chicago favorites. Chicago Dogs, Italian Beefs, so forth and so on. Maybe I’ll take the Dog for a walk around the block next time.
Service is always friendly. Maybe too friendly. I’m usually in a hurry and sometimes do not feel like chatting about life’s particulars. You do have to give them credit for trying. Some places just give you the stink eye and expect you to be happy.
Going with an average score of A-​OK on this puppy. Give them a try and see what you think. I’ll probably be back again for one of their lunch specials. Maybe I’ll bring my own sauce. WUZ UP!
3.25 STARS

I had the brisket sandwich with fries and a pickle slice for lunch ($ 10.25 with tax). They threw in a bottle of water since I don’t drink soda. The counter staff was friendly and brought my food to me at one of the tables.
This is my first trip to this Tom’s BBQ. The interior is not as nice as the Tom’s in Tempe. The food is average a BBQ place (the sauce a little sweeter than I like). The bun was a generic white bun (a whole grain bun might have added some texture to the sandwich). The fries were hot and a little greasy. The pickle was just a slice, not a spear. The décor did not have a Chicago theme like the Tempe store. Instead, just a running joke and pictures of a pig’s butt.
Food is OK, nothing spectacular. Neighborhood is seedy. Décor and vibe is worn and tired.