Evie Mae’s Pit Barbecue

One day Evie Mae’s will have a fully brick-​and-​mortar operation, perhaps even multiple locations, and you will have your children or grandchildren gathered around a campfire as you’re sharing your life experiences. One of them will question your story or wisdom, and you’ll pause, look them in the eye, and tell them, «Kiddo, I had Evie Mae’s when they were serving from a food truck. Show some respect.»
I stopped by here during a weekend visit to Texas and was floored by the barbecue. I picked up a few 3 meat plates for a family gathering. Each bite is such a satisfying experience that a 3-​meat plate can be shared between 2 normal humans.
Haven’t seen Dallas, Austin, or any other part of Texas, but I consider my barbecue experience to be complete after having Evie Mae’s. Check it out.
PS. I would personally forgo the sausage, but that’s more personal taste than anything wrong with the sausage itself.

I hate to be unoriginal here, but I have to echo the comments of my fellow Unilocalers: THERE IS FINALLY GOOD BBQ IN LUBBOCK!
I love coming back to my old college town, but one thing has always been missing, and that’s good bbq. This is no longer a problem now that I have found Evie Mae’s. An expression of great thanks to my fellow Unilocalers for helping me find this gem.
If you read my reviews of BBQ joints, you’ll find I am a tough grader. I am the epitome of a BBQ snob (and proud of it). If BBQ is good, I’ll say so. If it sucks, I’ll say so, and I often do. It is rare I’ll give 5 stars to any restaurant, and I am particularly stingy with stars when it comes to BBQ. Evie Mae’s is a legitimate 5 star BBQ place, no doubt about it.
I tried to heed the warnings to get to Evie Mae’s early, but having to wait for my son slowed me down and we didn’t get there until right before noon. They were already out of beef ribs when we arrived. They ran out of pork ribs and ham as we were waiting in line (and the wait wasn’t all that long… maybe 30 minutes). No more pulled pork by the time I reached the window, either. Apparently, this stuff goes fast. The owners (more on them later) were doing the best they could to see that the folks in line could get at least something… they were having to practice a form of «bbq socialism» and parse it out.
I ordered what was available: brisket, German sausage, green chili sausage, and turkey. I got sides of beans (I got the last of those) and the grits. Unfortunately, they were out of all other sides by the time I got there.
They have cold drinks, tea, and water… no beer. Not to worry, because one of the owners (more on them later) told me there was a convenience store 100 yards or so up the street where I could buy beer and bring it in. While they were filling the order, I ran up the street and got a sixer of Lone Star. I got back just in time for the feast that was handed down from the window. My son and I set up the spread in the seating area in the back, and we dug in…
I say this without equivocation: this was probably the best brisket I have ever had. This is no small thing, as I have had enough brisket to fill a cargo ship. It was amazing. A perfect bark, a good smoke ring, very moist without being too fatty, and the flavor was exquisite. The folks there know to ask you if you want moist or lean, which tells you they know what they’re doing. Another sign they know what they’re doing: they use oak, not mesquite. A mistake many West Texas bbq places make is they use what is available around there, which is mesquite… mesquite imparts an acrid flavor to the meat. Dry mesquite used to grill steaks works well, because it gets really hot and its use in direct heat cooking does not impart the acrid flavor (if the wood is well-​seasoned). But using somewhat green mesquite on brisket screws it up. The brisket at Evie Mae’s has a wonderful mild, smokey flavor, because they use the right kind of wood. This brisket was better than that I have had at any of the «big time» places down in Central Texas. Seriously, I do not believe I have ever had better brisket.
The green chili sausage was also outstanding. They have it made for them, and their provider has it down! Great flavor, perfect amount of heat, not too dry, not too greasy.
The German sausage was also excellent. A bit more subdued than the green chili, but great flavor and just the right amount of moisture.
I hate turkey. I think turkey pretty much sucks. It is usually dry, flavorless crap. I never order turkey at any bbq place. I got it at Evie Mae’s so I could distract my son with it to keep him from scarfing all the brisket, and, it was one of the few things they had left. Guess what… it was frickin’ amazing too! I couldn’t stop eating it. How they keep it so moist, I don’t know. But the flavor was exceptional.
The sides were very good. I don’t spend much times on sides, but the smokey beans were just that: perfectly smokey. The grits were very, very tasty. They also provide white bread, onion, pickles and red jalapenos… all go along perfectly.
They have sauce. I tried it, and it was actually quite good… not too sweet. I just tried it so I could say I did. You don’t need it. This meat is too good to drown in sauce… do not cover the taste of this exceptional meat in sauce, please.
I spent a few minutes chatting with the owners, and you couldn’t meet nicer people. I am so very impressed with what they have accomplished. Folks, don’t be pissed at them for only cooking as much as they can make well, and thus, for only serving until they run out. This is the sign of a proprietor who cares about quality rather than mass profit.
I can only think of one negative thing about Evie Mae’s: it is a 5 ½ hour drive from my home :(

This is an amazing and above excellent establishment.
It is on the outskirts, but like, come on, Lubbock isn’t that large. The drive is worth it. It isn’t even that long, OKAY?! Okay, I just needed you to know that the drive isn’t relevant in comparison to the reward of the barbeque that Evie Mae’s is cooking up for you.
The trailer is where you order and then you take a number and wait for your yummy food to be called out to you. There is a room/​building behind the trailer that has seating area, eclectic décor and all the fixins’ you need for your meal prepared by angels from Heaven. Last time we were there we saw blueprints displayed for a huge new Evie Mae’s. I didn’t find out where it will be located, but bless them for expanding and getting delicious BBQ to more people.
Now for the food. Between my husband and I we had the grits, pork ribs, german sausage, green chile and cheese sausage, and brisket. Holy BBQ. This experience was all the hype, more than all the hype. Everything was moist and perfect. The ribs were my favorite. They were tender and simple, but perfect. The spice, the texture, everything was perfect. Not too smokey, not too fatty, just perfect. The brisket was flavorful and amazing with the perfect amount of seasoned bark. They were my husband’s favorite. He shared and I was happy about that. The sausages were delectable as well and a nice thing to munch on in between my rib comas. The grits were cheesy and a great texture, I will never not get them.
Thank you Evie Mae for making barbeque that is Texas approved and amazing. I will be back time and time again.

Best BBQ I’ve ever had. Our staples are the moist brisket and turkey. The brisket is mind blowing: so savory and rich. We also really enjoy the beef and pork ribs. I am not a fan of the sausage they source, but Evie Mae’s treats it well. I think we’ve tried all the sides except the collard greens, that said, we stick with the meat and a side of cornbread. BBQ sauce is great but the meat does not need it — the true testament of excellent BBQ. Pecan pie is very good. I would not heed the one-​star review since the reviewer admits to leaving without even trying the food. The owners are always wonderful to us. Get there early for the best selection. We love it, and we’re excited for their permanent location to open!

Finally Lubbock has great BBQ! I’ve eaten BBQ all over South Texas and Evie Mae’s is the best I’ve had. Disclaimer: I’m making a pilgrimage to Franklin’s in the summer so we’ll see if it holds up since Franklin’s is widely regarded as the best on the planet. Everything at Evie Mae’s is positively sublime. Even their beans and tater salad are great when at most BBQ joints sides are a necessary evil. And the desserts are homemade. The staff is friendly and you actually get what you pay for. They only cook what they have so it’s always fresh. I appreciate their being married to quality and doing one thing right. So many times restaurants get greedy, cut corners, and wind up shutting down. I’m happy they’re having so much success so I can enjoy it for years to come!

Thanks to BBQ Snob/​aka Daniel Vaughn, for coming to the rescue. Needed a place for some good BBQ, and boy did he come through… WOW, great Brisket, Great Service, all round 5Stars… I will be back…

I would have loved to give this place 5 stars and tell you all how amazing the bbq was. However, I didn’t even get to try it. I drove out there from the Texas Texh area and arrived 1 hour after they opened… 1 hour. The problem is one hour after they opened they were out of more stuff than they still had. No grits, no beans, no cornbread, no sliced brisket, no pulled pork…
When we were deciding to leave because they’re out of everything the girl at the window rudely asks what were you wanting that we don’t have… Seriously?! Your out of 50% of your stuff one hour into your day. There are other excellent bbq choices that can actually forecast more than one hour of business. Ridiculous

So the quest for beef ribs in the LBK area started about 4 years ago when we moved here. Seems no one bothers with them, which makes me sad. This morning I was looking around online some more & read reviews about Evie Mae’s. Made the trip out to Wolfforth & found the place. Right now it’s a food truck with an addition built out back to sit in. I didn’t come for the décor, danggit!
BEEF RIBS are to be found! They are huge — about 1lb each — & $ 18 a pop. 3 ribs, 2 sides + 1 small side, ½ lb. turkey, 3 beef sausage links & 3 drinks = $ 107 feeds 3 people. But did I mention they are HUGE BEEF RIBS? So tender, they pulled right off the bone. The BBQ sauce is thick & a little spicy — just how I like it. The turkey wasn’t dry, though the sausage kinda was. The sides were nothing to get excited about. Place was full early & staff was really nice.
$$$ kinda pricey, but we’ll be back! Great find!

When the character of Jason Street, a former high school QB who becomes partially paralyzed a football play in the NBC series Friday Night Lights, tells his best friend Tim Riggins that he is moving to NYC to pursue his dream of being a sports agent, Tim responds with, «Why would anyone ever want to leave Texas?» Having sojourned away from the Lone Star State myself for close to a decade, eating a meal of slow-​cooked Texas style brisket, green chili sausage (a first for me, where would one find such a thing in New Hampshire or Kansas?), green chili grits (trust me, the running theme here should be completely acceptable to the Texas palate) and baked beans makes me ask the same question introspectively.
Of course, any first trip to a BBQ place in Texas should always begin and end with beef brisket. Evie Mae’s delivers with succulent and smoky meat that is tender and juicy on the inside with a savory and smoky crunchy exterior. This may be the best brisket I have had in a long time and ranks among the best in the state that I have imbibed. The green chili sausage was smoky and juicy and the green chilies packed a flavor and spicy punch. The ambiance is perfect for this type of fare: a glorified food truck to take orders and prepare meals, a visible smoker hard at work, and a rented warehouse that looks like it could have easily served as an auto body shop filled with picnic tables and Lone Star Beer signs but otherwise not richly adorned with much of anything nor is it to falsely pretentiously rustic.
For much of my life, West Texas was unfortunately a bit of the barren wasteland of BBQ, failing to live up to the hype and tradition of BBQ compared to the rest of the state. With recent entries such as Evie Maes and The Shack, the reviewers at the likes of the Texas Monthly owe the region another visit to see where these establishments rank against the Central Texas perennial stalwarts. I firmly expect Evie Mae’s to hold their own and thrive in such a competition.

okay, so. BBQ is a big deal, right? we all love it, we all think about it all the time, too much probably. Anyway, a friend of mine introduced me to this tiny little BBQ place in the middle of Wolfforth (right off brownfield highway headed towards lubbock) it’s easy to miss, because the store front is a trailer, like, an actual trailer. So you kinda park wherever, go and stand in front of this inconspicuous trailer. this is when it gets fun, they have all your expected BBQ foods, brisket, turkey, sausage etc. get the brisket. the brisket is moist, flavorful, hands down the best BBQ in the lubbock area. get the brisket. the sausage was good, when I got it, but the brisket eclipsed it because I didn’t want to stop eating it, in order to eat anything else. get the brisket. They have ample seating behind the trailer in a shopping center where the interior is simple, cool, and have all the amenities you would expect from a restaurant. the cornbread is good. get the brisket.

There are much better reviews than I can provide here, but I just wanted to confirm that this is indeed by far the best barbecue I have ever had in Lubbock by a wide margin. It is, in fact, the best BBQ I’ve had in my life.
So much thought and care has gone into everything they serve — not just the meat, but the beans are easily the best I’ve had at a BBQ joint. There is simply no way you will be disappointed by the hype (I often am). I really had no idea that brisket could be this good — it was a revelation. And the ribs… I am never eating lunch anywhere else on a Thursday and Friday. Get here before everyone else figures out how good this place is.

Having been to almost every BBQ joint in Texas that has made the TM 50, and numerous times to the top 10, Evie Mae’s has crept up my list each time I have had the pleasure of patronizing them. To take away the top spot on my list from joints like Franklins, Pecan Lodge, Louis Mueller, Snows, Mickelthwaite, La Barbecue, Cousins, City Market, Blacks, etc, is no easy task, yet Evie Mae’s has solidly claimed its place at the number 1 spot on my list. West Texas is blessed to have such a talented team with Arnis and Mallory, who have truly perfected their craft! Even for die hard foodies, it takes something special to want to drive 200 miles round trip every week just to feed that BBQ addiction, and Evie Mae’s is worth it every time!

We are big fans of the Shack and decided to try Evie Mae’s, after hearing so much about it. They serve really great barbeque, too! We had meals with the pulled pork and brisket. Both were moist and flavorful, with a spicy sauce on the side. The grits with jalapeños are also very good! We definitely will be adding Evie Mae’s to our BBQ rotation. Lubbock is very fortunate to have this business, the shack and Eddie’s.

Lubbock use to be a bbq afterthought and with the addition of Evie Mae’s they now hold one of the best BBQ restaurants in the state. I’ve traveled Texas eating bbq (over half of Texas Monthly’s Top 50) and this place is the 2^nd best in my opinion. All the meats are perfectly smoked with enough seasoning to enhance the meat and not over power it. Texas bbq is known for beef and their brisket is phenomenal but you would be doing yourself a disservice not to get the turkey and pulled pork. If you live in Lubbock this place is less than. 20 minutes from you so get there now! If you don’t live in Lubbock, fill up the tank, book a hotel and get up there as this place is destination bbq.

Amber and I were going to Lubbock for July 4^th weekend. It was a great chance to shoot off fireworks because I cannot do so in our neighborhood. The Shack BBQ has been our go-​to barbecue joint in my wife’s hometown. A few of months ago when one of Amber’s friend said that Evie Mae’s Pit Barbecue is Texas Monthly’s Top 50 worthy, I totally dismissed that statement. I said to myself, «People in Lubbock do not know good barbecue.» Back in April, I was in Lubbock for less than 24 hours, and they were not open on the weekends. Terrible timing. When Daniel Vaughn visited, he had lots of good things to say about it. I knew it was time to stop by Evie Mae’s the next time we rolled through the LBK. We were coming into town for a birthday celebration and a funeral. I made sure that we got there a day early.
Husband and wife duo, Arnis and Mallory, opened the BBQ trailer back in February of this year in Wolfforth. Wolfforth is about five miles outside of the Lubbock city limits. Nothing is far in Lubbock. The two knew each other while growing up in New Mexico, right on the Texas border. They started a landscaping business in Tucson, Arizona after Arnis attended landscape design school there. Arnis took up smoking meat as a hobby and ended up building a reverse flow smoker on a trailer. It ended up turning into a one day a week gig out of a little trailer. The right opportunity came along, and they sold their landscaping business. Most of their family is Lubbock or just across the border in New Mexico. They upgraded their trailer, decided to do barbecue full time, and got back to Texas as fast as they could. Evie Mae’s is named after their daughter.
Amber, her brother, Zach, and I shared a two-​meat plate of brisket and sausage and a pork rib plate. We ordered sides of green chile cheese grits, smoked beans, potato salad, and cornbread. One bite into the brisket and I was impressed. The apple and oak wood slow danced with the brisket for over 10 hours, and the results were superb. The meat was tender and smoky, and the fat was rendered perfectly. The salt and pepper rub gave the brisket enough flavor. This brisket rivals some of the good ones in Texas. When I was eating, I actually thought it reminded me of La Barbecue’s with less rub. The meaty pork ribs were great. They were juicy and soft with a little resistance. The meat was kissed with a nice amount of smoke, and their BBQ sauce gave it a touch of sweetness. The pork sausage was a custom blend made for them. It had New Mexico influences with green chiles carrying the majority of the spice. It was good and had enough fat without being overly greasy. The grit gave it a nice texture, and the casing was snappy. The end pieces of brisket on the plates were divine. A little piece of heaven on earth. #meatcandy
Mallory loves to cook so she is in charge of that side of the business. Everything was made from scratch. The green chile cheese grits reminded me of Micklethwait’s. They were creamy and rich. My wife and I do not like grits, but we enjoyed them. The potato salad was pretty standard. The smoked beans were out of this world. They sit in the smoker for five hours under the beef ribs. They had a nice balance of spiciness and sweetness with a huge depth of flavor. The cornbread would make any granny proud. They were moist and fantastic. I ate the last bite, and my wife was disappointed it was all gone. Mallory says she wants to open a bakery someday. I would be excited to visit if that ever goes into fruition.
I am already asking my wife when we are going back to Lubbock. I lived there for two and half years while Amber was in law school and did not have the best experience. That tells you something about the BBQ that Evie Mae’s is putting out. I do regret not trying the turkey, pulled pork, and the beef ribs. Next time for sure. There was more than enough food for the three of us. They are now open Thursday through Saturday so you can get your barbecue fix on the weekend. Evie Mae’s Pit Barbecue is also a perfect destination for those who are on road trips. The indoor seating to get out of the extreme West Texas weather is an added bonus.

Saw the Texas Monthly review today and I had lunch open so I decided to try them out. I was not disappointed. I had brisket, pork ribs and sausage and loved all three. The ribs and sausage were definitely the best I’ve had in Lubbock. I brought home sauce but didn’t even open it — the meat just didn’t need it, which is rare in this town of thinly-​sliced super-​lean brisket. Would love to see them open more than three days a week, and they will definitely have to solve the parking problem as word gets around. Maybe a move to a better location will be in order? Whatever they do, I’ll be rooting for them and stopping by regularly from now on.

Good pork ribs, got the last they had, so wasn’t expecting greatness. Highlight was definitely the beef rib and brisket, but the beef rib wins out. Really, really good. Wife liked the turkey and sausage a lot. Not my favorite bbq sauce, but everyone has their own tastes with that.
Overall, very good. Best in Lubbock, in my opinion.

Great Brisket melts in your mouth tender and amazing sausage very friendly owners also.

Always great! I am not much of a sides guy but here they are worth it, and made from scratch. The meats are always perfect. Arniss cooks like he has been doing this for 100 years. If you like the central Texas style of BBQ cooking he takes it to a new level of juicy goodness carnivores will love. His wife makes homemade cheese cake that even New Yorkers would be proud to call theirs.

May have stumbled upon some of the best BBQ around. Absolutely amazing! Will most definitely be back… soon.