
Little Miss BBQ-University
A retro-style eatery renowned for its Central Texas-style BBQ, featuring mouthwatering brisket, beef ribs, and house-made sausages.

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Little Miss BBQ-University

Highlights
Must-see attractions
A retro-style eatery renowned for its Central Texas-style BBQ, featuring mouthwatering brisket, beef ribs, and house-made sausages.
"The brisket is legit the most tender and juicy brisket on the planet! Ribs melted off the bone!"
Arrive Early for Popular Items
Beef ribs and other specials sell out fast. Visit early or well before closing to secure your favorites.
BYOB Friendly
The restaurant has a BYOB license, so feel free to bring your favorite beer to pair with your meal.

Quick Facts
Cuisine
Barbecue
Price
Mid-range
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Legendary Brisket & Beef Ribs
Melt-in-your-mouth tender brisket and fall-off-the-bone beef ribs are the stars, smoked to perfection and packed with flavor.

Authentic Central Texas BBQ Experience
A no-frills, retro-style eatery serving up authentic Central Texas BBQ with a passion for smoked meats and traditional sides.

House-Made Sausages
Don't miss the house-made sausages, especially the flavorful jalapeño cheddar variety, a perfect complement to the smoked meats.
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Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Arrive Early for Popular Items
Beef ribs and other specials sell out fast. Visit early or well before closing to secure your favorites.
BYOB Friendly
The restaurant has a BYOB license, so feel free to bring your favorite beer to pair with your meal.
Limited Indoor Seating
Be prepared for limited indoor seating; outdoor picnic tables are also available.
Be Mindful of Salty Sides
Some find sides like beans and grits to be overly salty. Banana pudding is a recommended sweet alternative.
Tips
from all over the internet
Arrive Early for Popular Items
Beef ribs and other specials sell out fast. Visit early or well before closing to secure your favorites.
BYOB Friendly
The restaurant has a BYOB license, so feel free to bring your favorite beer to pair with your meal.
Limited Indoor Seating
Be prepared for limited indoor seating; outdoor picnic tables are also available.
Be Mindful of Salty Sides
Some find sides like beans and grits to be overly salty. Banana pudding is a recommended sweet alternative.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Little Miss BBQ is celebrated for its exceptionally tender and flavorful brisket and beef ribs, often hailed as some of the best outside of Texas. The friendly and energetic staff contribute to a positive dining experience, though some diners note that the sides can be overly salty and portions for the price could be more generous. Despite these minor criticisms, the quality of the smoked meats makes it a highly recommended destination for BBQ enthusiasts.
"I recently visited Little Miss BBQ, and wow, what a treat! I ordered the pulled pork sandwich, and it was absolutely delicious. The meat was perfectly tender, smoky, and packed with flavor. The bun was soft and complemented the pulled pork so well. I especially loved the variety of BBQ sauces they offered – each one brought a unique twist and really elevated the dish. You can tell they take pride in their craft. They're always cooking up something tasty, and the aroma fills the air as soon as you walk in. Quick, friendly service and a cozy atmosphere make this place a must-visit for any BBQ lover. Highly recommend it!"
Anthony Pellegrino
"We tried the sliced brisket and it was absolutely incredible — tender, juicy, and packed with smoky flavor. The staff made the experience even better — they were full of energy, super friendly, and made us feel really welcome. The whole place had such a positive, lively vibe. If you're in the area and love good BBQ, this spot is a must-visit!"
傅佳音
"Fantastic BBQ! Was searching for a place I could bring my father in law to that served ribs and chances upon this place. We enjoyed it immensely! The beef ribs and the pulled pork were excellent! Have to add that the Sausage was also great. My father in law remarked, "can we come back here again before we leave?" And he's hard to please 😅 we enjoyed the pecan pie as well. Shout out to the friendly staff! We felt very welcome"
Carlos Chua
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
The most highly acclaimed dishes are the brisket and beef ribs, known for their incredible tenderness and flavor. House-made sausages, particularly the jalapeño cheddar, are also a must-try.
It's recommended to arrive early, especially on Thursdays for pastrami or if you want to guarantee popular items like beef ribs, as they sell out quickly.
No, they do not serve alcohol. However, they have a BYOB license, so you can bring your own beer or other beverages.
While popular, some diners find the beans and grits to be quite salty. Other well-loved sides include potato salad and banana pudding.
There is limited indoor seating, and additional outdoor seating with picnic benches is available.
While the data doesn't specify online ordering, it's a popular takeout spot. It's best to check their official website or call ahead for the most current information.
Yes, they offer unique barbecue burritos, including a green chili and red chili burrito made with their signature smoked meats.
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The crew behind Little Miss BBQ got its start as a competitive barbecue team. Now they run this small but highly sought-after joint where lines often wrap around the block (and yes, it’s completely worth the wait). As with all quality barbecue spots, ordering is a simple and straightforward experience: Pick your meat (brisket, pulled pork, ribs, turkey, or sausage), tell them how much of it you want, and then select your sides—ranch-style beans, jalapeño cheddar grits (seriously!), potato salad, or coleslaw.
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In a grungy, off-the-radar neighbourhood near the airport, Little Miss BBQ dishes out Texas-style meats, slow-smoked over white oak and pecan woods. Hour-long queues are off-putting, but go later in the day and, even though the cult favourite fatty brisket may have sold out, there are black pepper-barked pork ribs and juicy, snappy sausages as consolation. Even Texas Monthly magazine’s BBQ editor made the pilgrimage here and gave it a massive thumbs up.
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Ask your protein-loving friends about their favorite local barbecue joint and they’ll likely start waxing poetic about Little Miss BBQ and its impressive offering of wonderfully smoked meats. Sure, you could take their word for it. Or, you could nab a spot in line and experience the nirvana that is Little Miss BBQ for yourself at one of their two Valley locations.
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Head to the original University location of this Texas-style barbecue spot for some of the best pork ribs, sausage links, and brisket in Phoenix. Sure, you’ll likely have to stand in line before calling dibs on one of the outdoor picnic tables, but that’ll give you some time to sort out your game plan: sandwich or a plate?. Pulled pork or ribs?
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This place for Texas-style smoked and saucy meats opened in 2014, and no one has stopped yapping about it ever since. A beacon in a largely industrial neighborhood, you’ll recognize it by both the retro-style sign and the long line. There are picnic tables outside for on-the-spot dining near the smokers where the magic happens.
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In a tiny lot by the airport, several giant smokers welded from old propane tanks emit the smells of woodsmoke. Even in the summer heat, a line of an hour-plus stretches, unless you’ve arrived at least 20 minutes before the 11:00 a.m.
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We’ve argued for years that Phoenix is a first-rate barbecue town, and our conviction comes from solid spots like JL Smokehouse, newcomers like Eric’s Family Barbecue, and especially the Arizona-famous Little Miss BBQ. Even “soul food scholar” Adrian Miller — a former lawyer and special assistant to President Clinton, a food historian, and a certified barbecue judge — has heard of Little Miss BBQ. So has everyone else in town. Little Miss is the kind of barbecue joint where you fold waiting in line into the allotted time and experience. (And while you wait, a piece of tape may get slapped over the very item you planned to order on the large, displayed menu; like we said, the place is popular.) The double location barbecue restaurant was started by a competitive barbecue team inspired by the meat joints of Texas Hill Country, all to the benefit of hungry Phoenicians.
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Little Miss BBQ isn't located in one of Phoenix's hottest dining districts â" the barbecue destination is located on an industrial stretch of University Drive on the Phoenix-Tempe border. But just because it's not in a trendy dining corridor doesn't mean that it's a hidden gem. Plenty of people have discovered the pleasures of Little Miss BBQ, particularly the pleasures of the excellent, Central Texas-style barbecue, which is cooked using Arizona oak and pecan wood. Don't miss the beef brisket, although the ribs, turkey, pulled pork and sausage are all pretty great, too. Whatever you do, though, come prepared to stand in line. It's all part of the experience of eating at Little Miss BBQ. Patricia's expert tip: The wait time at Little Miss can be famously long. Be prepared to wait at least a half an hour for your barbecue.
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Last but certainly not least on our list is Little Miss BBQ — a beloved barbecue joint that has garnered national acclaim for its mouthwatering smoked meats. Located in central Phoenix, Little Miss BBQ specializes in Texas-style brisket, ribs, and sausage cooked low and slow over oak wood until tender perfection. The restaurant’s no-frills approach puts the focus squarely on the quality of their meats — which speak for themselves through flavor that keeps customers coming back time after time.
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Named after Scott and Bekke Holmes’ dog’s nickname, Little Miss got its start in BBQ competition. Now with two locations (University Drive and Sunnyslope) it’s even easier to enjoy Scott’s award-winning BBQ and popular sides such as Ranch Style Beans and Jalapeno Cheddar Grits. Superlative brisket is a top-seller, though jalapeño sausage (a blend of brisket, pork, and house bacon), pastrami brisket, beef ribs, smoked burritos, and Bekke’s pecan pie are just as popular with those in the know.
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Little Miss BBQ is one of the most iconic barbecue joints in Phoenix, with locations in Sunnyslope and the original location on University Drive. In addition to the wildly popular brisket, they also offer daily specials, like smoked pastrami. This year, they're offering Father's Day specials including a whole 5-6 pound brisket and a bottle of barbecue sauce for $160, a whole 4-5 pound pork shoulder for $60, a whole 3-pound turkey breast for $60 and a 2.5-pound rack of pork ribs for $55.
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Arizona may not be the first state that comes to mind when it comes to barbecue, but the former competitive barbecue team behind Little Miss BBQ smokes some of the best brisket, pork butt, ribs and turkey in the nation. Don’t be surprised if the original University Drive location runs out of some menu items (if not all of them) before you make it to the front of the line for lunch. Diners at the second location, a sit-down restaurant in the Sunnyslope neighborhood, usually fare better.
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Little Miss BBQ isn’t located in one of Phoenix’s hottest dining districts, and the barbecue destination is situated on an industrial stretch of University Drive on the Phoenix-Tempe border. But just because it’s not in a trendy dining corridor doesn’t mean it’s a hidden gem. Plenty of people have discovered the pleasures of Little Miss BBQ, particularly the satisfaction of the excellent Central Texas-style barbecue, which is cooked using Arizona oak and pecan wood.
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While Phoenix is no mecca for barbecue, you can in fact enjoy some of the best, award winning central Texas-style barbecue at Little Miss BBQ, one of the best restaurants in Phoenix. We will always have a soft spot for the fatty brisket, but true Texas barbecue is more than just brisket so we recommend trying a little bit of everything (leftovers are never a bad thing). As far as sides go, make sure to get the jalapeno cheddar grits and mac-and-cheese.
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If you want to savor slow-smoked brilliance slapped onto a piece of butcher paper, you won't mind waiting in line at Little Miss BBQ. Regulars come for the piles of delicious meat, including sausage, turkey and even pastrami. Go through the line and build your own sampler; add jalapeño cheddar grits or the more traditional barbecue accompaniments to your plate. You can also get that mouthwatering brisket or pulled pork loaded into a sandwich.
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Every major city in the US seems to have a barbecue restaurant that people line up for, day in and day out. Little Miss BBQ is ours, and I’d be willing to say it’d be good enough to make a splash in Texas if it decided to move there tomorrow morning. The meats are great, the sides are great, it’s just a little out of the way from wherever you’re probably going (every good BBQ spot is a little out of the way), and I can’t recommend it enough.
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This is the MUST HAVE, can’t miss BBQ spot in the Phoenix area and it is 1000%, yes, one-thousand percent worth waiting in line for. The flagship restaurant is located right on the border of Phoenix and Tempe in an obscure location with limited parking and a LONG wait, unless, of course, you get there at 10:30 am to get in line for their 11 am opening. For shorter lines and more seating, you should check out their new Sunnyslope location.
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Few Arizona chefs have inspired a culinary quantum leap like Scott Holmes, whose brisket forced the competition to play catch-up and ushered in a new wave of first-rate barbecue in the Valley. In an era when smoked meat is one of the sexiest things on television, it only stands to reason that Little Miss BBQ would garner some love beyond Arizona’s borders. But the lines don’t wrap around the parking lot because barbecue is trendy.
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There’s always a line at Little Miss BBQ, but the wait, which can be upwards of three hours, is worth it, especially if you can score some of the award-winning, Texas-style brisket. Come at least an hour early to minimize your wait time and maximize your chances of trying the brisket. Sandwiches with a side are the best deal, but the plates with two sides could easily feed two people, as long as you’re willing to share.
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Arizona ‘cue fans can get a taste of Central Texas-style barbecue with proteins like sliced and chopped brisket, pulled pork and pork spare ribs, sausage, turkey breast, and beef short ribs, all of which are available by the pound at Little Miss. The jalapeño-cheddar grits, ranch-style beans, spoonable mac and cheese, and personal smoked pecan pies are undoubtedly worth saving room for, too.
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The real star of any barbecue place is going to be the meat and the guys at Little Miss BBQ focus on letting that stand out. Their meats are just lightly seasoned so you can get the full flavor mixed with the wide variety of woods they use for the smoke. They’re generous people with solid portions and all the bonus condiments you want to add to your plate, on the house.
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Barbeque fans recognize the real thing when they taste it, which is why Little Miss BBQ has such a strong following in Phoenix. This cafeteria-style eatery has a distinct retro-vibe and is a favorite among locals for its melt-in-your-mouth pulled pork and brisket. The pork ribs are so tender and flavorful, you’ll forgive the fact that you had to wait in line.
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Little Miss BBQ is a place that has been inspired by the eatery Franklin BBQ. It has since its opening been serving meat dishes that make people wait in long lines. If you are a fan of smokey meat dishes of beef, briskets, chicken, sausages, and turkey along with sides of jalapeno cheddar grits, potato salad, creamy coleslaw, and beans, then do visit here.
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Address: 4301 E University Dr, Phoenix, AZ 85034Phone:+1 (602) 437-1177Website:littlemissbbq.comDetails: $$, Barbecue restaurant. Nestled in the sunny slope location of Phoenix, Little Miss Bbq has gained a reputation for its exceptional American cuisine. Despite the occasional wait, the dedicated and friendly staff make the dining experience worthwhile.
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**Volumes have been written about how good the award-winning barbecue is at Little Miss BBQ. They offer meats by the pound, including sliced brisket, turkey, pulled pork and pork spare ribs. Also available: family packs, meat plates with sides, burritos and some serious mac and cheese. And if you’re so inclined, pick up some sweet and smoky pecan pie.
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Cooking up Texas-style BBQ in the heart of Arizona, the pitmasters at Little Miss BBQ bring a hefty serving of Southern deliciousness to the desert. Made with passion and devotion to the BBQ craft, the food at Little Miss BBQ is the epitome of hearty and tasty, meaning it’s no surprise that this spot draws hefty lines from both tourists and locals.
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A trip out to Austin forever altered the course of Little Miss BBQ owner Scott Holmes’ life. He was in town with his then-girlfriend and now-wife Bekke when they were both blown away by the barbecue at legendary Texas spot The Salt Lick. Scott and Bekke got to work trying to craft amazing barbecue, participating in different competitions.
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A favorite among barbecue enthusiasts, Little Miss BBQ serves up some of the best-smoked meats in the city. This spot focuses on slow-cooked brisket, pulled pork, and house-made sausages, perfect for anyone craving hearty comfort food as the temperatures drop. It’s a great contender for the best food in Phoenix AZ.
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The 20th-ranked restaurant on the list, Little Miss BBQ’s, located at N. 7th St. and Townley Avenue in Phoenix, offers a menu with many BBQ-meats such as turkey, sliced brisket and pork ribs. They have a selection of sandwiches that includes pulled pork, brisket and others, all served on a noble bread roll.
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If not, this is your chance to try it at Little Miss BBQ in Phoenix, Arizona. It has two locations: Sunnyslope and E University Dr. The original university serves the city’s best brisket, pork ribs, and traditional sausages. However, certain specialties are only served on a specific day of the week.
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Meat owners can come here for the kind of meal that so many appreciate when it comes to a filling and delicious lunch or dinner. Barbecue is on the menu and it shows. That’s why this is the place to be when you want a meal that includes some of the most famous food from the South.
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I indicated that I thought I’d mosey over to Little Miss BBQ and do some foraging there. Why not swing by on the way back?. I took the precaution of making certain that they hadn’t sold out of brisket, and then off we went to their Sunnyslope location at 8901 North 7th Street.
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- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (681 reviews)- Detailed ratings: Food (5.0/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.5/5), Atmosphere (3.5/5)- Type of cuisine: Quick Bites, American- Price: $$ - $$$- Address: 4301 E University Dr, Phoenix, AZ 85034-7317- Read more on Tripadvisor
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When in the mood for Central Texas-style barbecue and traditional sides, you can’t go wrong with the smoked meats at this unassuming, no-frills spot. From house-made sausage to beef brisket and pork ribs, you are sure to enjoy perfectly smoked meat.
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Little Miss BBQ A local bbq staple with two current locations in Sunnyslope and Phoenix. Their award winning, slow cooked, smoked, brisket is not to be missed!
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4301 E University Dr, Phoenix, AZ 85034Phone: 602-437-1177 Visit Website. View this post on Instagram. A post shared by Little Miss BBQ (@littlemissbbq)
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Little Miss BBQ is a no-frills neighborhood eatery whose menu focuses on Central Texas smoked meats, familiarly tasty sides, and refreshing iced tea.
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Pitmaster Scott Holmes made his bones (preferably the St. Louis ribs) competing on the local AZ BBQ competition circuit. His brisket steals the show.
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They snagged a no. 2 spot on @yelp's 100 top places to try in the US in 2018!. #myphx featured 📸 by @cooking_con_amor_. #phoenixfood #phoenixeats
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It’s also right by Desert Ridge, which is kind of an outdoor mall. There’s an incredible fancy Korean BBQ place called Sizzle.
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