Cotton State BBQ
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Cotton State BBQ

4.6
·491k reviews·,

A casual downtown Mobile spot serving classic Southern smoked meats with a creative twist, featuring award-winning BBQ sauce and unique loaded potato ...

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Social content

Social

From TikTok & Reddit

Best Time

Wed/Fri 18-21h

Blue hour photography, calmer galleries

CrowdLow
Cotton State BBQ

Cotton State BBQ

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

A casual downtown Mobile spot serving classic Southern smoked meats with a creative twist, featuring award-winning BBQ sauce and unique loaded potato dishes.

4.6
(491k reviews)

"Their BBQ sauce stands out, even for those who aren't usually fans of barbecue sauces."

TIP

Arrive Early

They close at 2 PM, so arrive early to ensure you can enjoy their delicious offerings.

Try Loaded Options

Consider loaded potatoes, nachos, or fries for a nontraditional take on classic smoked meats.

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Quick Facts

Closed·Opens Thursday 7AM

Cuisine

Barbecue

Price

Mid-range

Phone

(251) 477-3289

Address

107 St Francis St, Mobile, AL 36602, USA

Insta-Factor

Medium

Highlights

Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Loaded Beef Brisket Potato

Loaded Beef Brisket Potato

A giant Idaho potato piled high with slow-cooked brisket, cheese, and BBQ sauce. A unique twist on a comfort food classic.

3 barbecue restaurants in Mobile you need to try ASAP
Southern BBQ with a Twist

Southern BBQ with a Twist

Enjoy traditional smoked meats with a Mobile, Alabama flair, featuring unique loaded potatoes, nachos, and fries.

30 Top Restaurants In Downtown Mobile Alabama – Checkout Gulf CoastTop BBQ Restaurants In Mobile Alabama
Award-Winning BBQ Sauce

Award-Winning BBQ Sauce

Their house-made BBQ sauce is a standout, even for those who don't typically enjoy barbecue sauce.

Top BBQ Restaurants In Mobile Alabama
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Insider Tips

from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit

Arrive Early

They close at 2 PM, so arrive early to ensure you can enjoy their delicious offerings.

Try Loaded Options

Consider loaded potatoes, nachos, or fries for a nontraditional take on classic smoked meats.

Expect Higher Prices

Prices may be higher relative to portion sizes, but the cozy atmosphere and attentive staff enhance the experience.

Lunch Rush Warning

The restaurant is crowded during lunch hours, so plan your visit accordingly if time is a constraint.

Tips

from all over the internet

Arrive Early

They close at 2 PM, so arrive early to ensure you can enjoy their delicious offerings.

Try Loaded Options

Consider loaded potatoes, nachos, or fries for a nontraditional take on classic smoked meats.

Expect Higher Prices

Prices may be higher relative to portion sizes, but the cozy atmosphere and attentive staff enhance the experience.

Lunch Rush Warning

The restaurant is crowded during lunch hours, so plan your visit accordingly if time is a constraint.

What Travellers Say

4.6
(491k reviews)

Reviews Summary

Cotton State BBQ offers a taste of Southern tradition with a unique Mobile, Alabama twist, particularly noted for its loaded brisket potato and award-winning BBQ sauce. While many praise the flavorful food and friendly staff, some reviews mention slower service during peak lunch hours and concerns about price versus portion size. Overall, it's a popular spot for classic BBQ with innovative options.

"Respectably good BBQ located in downtown Mobile. We stopped by there before visiting USS Alabama. We've never been to Mobile so we just did a blind search on google map and found this place. We were concerned about parking but we easily found a spot. It was a nice day so we had our food to go and ate at the park next door. I'm not sure about their services but the interior seems pretty nice for a BBQ joint. Everything we had was good. They packed us some coleslaw (not sure if it was their normal thing to do) and it was great."

Aaron Lee

"I’m not sure why this place has such great reviews. We ordered the "special," which was a brisket sandwich with cheese, bacon, and fries, but there was nothing special about it. The brisket was dry and bland, the bacon was overly salty and undercooked, and the overall meal was disappointing. To make things worse, our server seemed more interested in chatting with other customers than checking on us. The prices were also steep for what you get - $20 each for the special felt unreasonable. I wouldn’t recommend dining here."

K K

"Stuffed Bakes Potato was very good had all the fixings. Great location looking over Beinville Square."

Tom Buhring

What People Like

Award-winning BBQ sauce
Unique loaded brisket potato
Friendly and attentive staff

What People Dislike

Slow service during lunch
Price-to-portion ratio
Brisket can be dry

Frequently Asked Questions

Cotton State BBQ serves breakfast and lunch, closing at 2:00 PM daily, primarily catering to the downtown lunch rush.

Google Review

The loaded beef brisket potato, featuring slow-cooked brisket and BBQ sauce on a baked potato, is a standout favorite.

3 barbecue restaurants in Mobile you need to try ASAP

Yes, parking is generally easy to find, making it convenient to visit the restaurant.

Google Review

Yes, they serve traditional options like pulled pork sandwiches alongside their more unique creations.

3 barbecue restaurants in Mobile you need to try ASAP

Yes, you can order by phone for quick pick-up. The number is 251.545.4682.

Mentioned in

Featured in these publications

The Bama Buzz

3 barbecue restaurants in Mobile you need to try ASAP

Cotton State BBQ was started in 2014 by brothers Ryan & David Tillman, who wanted to branch out from that traditional barbecue. While you can still, of course, enjoy a delicious pulled-pork sandwich with crisp, made-the-same-day coleslaw, you’ll also find new twists on that same old barbecue flavor you already love. Our favorite is the loaded beef brisket potato, a loaded baked potato with thinly-sliced, slow-cooked brisket and BBQ sauce on the side.

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checkoutgulfcoast.com

30 Top Restaurants In Downtown Mobile Alabama – Checkout Gulf Coast

Southern traditional smoked meats with a Mobile Alabama twist and combining down home southern bbq to our local favorites the loaded potato, nachos, and loaded fries. “Clean, neat, well organized, great atmosphere but the food is the best part…tastiest cole slaw I’ve ever had and brisket sandwich, BBQ sauce and homemade banana pudding were all delicious. Don’t miss this stop.

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mobileal.com

The Best Restaurants to eat at in Downtown Mobile

Cotton State BBQ is a little hole in the wall downtown that serves deliciousness one sandwich at a time. I hesitate to tell you all about it as it is already getting crazy busy and I want to be able to get in there for a sandwich every once in awhile. I’ve only ever had their brisket sandwich, but… it is the most amazing BBQ I have ever had.

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al

Mobile’s best barbecue: Our top 5

Hole-in-the wall barbecue joints don’t come much smaller than this spot, and it’s just far enough off the beaten path (i.e. Dauphin Street) to be somewhat obscure even among downtown diners. But it’s only a block off Bienville Square, and those who know, know. Mainly they know that it’s worth waiting for one of those few tables to open up.

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The Mobile Rundown

Top BBQ Restaurants In Mobile Alabama

Cotton State BBQ is bringing a new spin to a Southern tradition by cooking traditional smoked meats and combining them in nontraditional ways. They serve a menu featuring classic smoked meats & comfort food sides in a casual setting with exposed brick. Some of our favorites on the menu are the massive, loaded potatoes, nachos, and fries.

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Jim's Dining Guides

Dining Guide to Historic Mobile, Alabama

Cotton State BBQ has three kinds of meat: pork, chicken, and brisket. They are served in one of the following manners: Plates, Sandwiches, Potatoes, Fries, or Salads. There are other sandwiches on the menu as well: Turkey & Swiss, Classic Chicken Salad, and Truly Southern Chicken Salad.

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Stacker

Highest-rated Cheap Eats in Mobile, According to Tripadvisor

- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (30 reviews)- Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.0/5), Value (4.0/5)- Type of cuisine: American, Barbecue- Address: 101 N Conception St, Mobile, AL 36602-2904- Read more on Tripadvisor

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