Jay’s BBQ Shack — Restaurant in Abilene

I couldn't believe the 4.9 rating with 500+ reviews when I came across this place on a whim for lunch while passing through Abilene. I thought to myself, "I have to try this place if it's THAT good." Y'all, it is TRULY THAT GOOD. We walked up to find a cute metal patio with fans and picnic tables, just perfect for a beautiful outdoor dining experience. The smokers were rolling in the back, tickling our noses for what was to come. The line went back to the end of the tables, different locals chatted us up at various points throughout the line and they all said, "it's worth the wait, don't leave!" I was informed this line was short compared to last weekend where the line ended at the stop sign down the street. They ran out of several things before we made it to the window, but what was left at 1:30 was ABSOLUTELY DIVINE.

We informed the lovely lady at the counter that it was our first time dining at Jay's and she gave us the rundown of the popular items that they had left. We tried all we could. Each of the three variations of sausage hit the spot, pulled pork was so tender and full of flavor, the potato salad and mac and cheese were both fantastic. The star of this show is truly the brisket. We asked for a fattier cut and they did not disappoint! I could've eaten my weight in brisket that day, I still dream about it almost three months later. It was the most tender brisket I have ever had! We took the banana pudding home for later and were so glad to have it, it was delicious. Try every single hot sauce and BBQ sauce, they're all drool worthy!

Pro tips: get there early, go grab a beer or beverage at the pick up window while you wait. They have a killer selection. My husband especially enjoyed The Garage beer. If you're going in the summertime I would recommend a hat or umbrella to wait in the line as they say it can back up much longer than the one we waited in. Talk to the locals, they're really friendly, and they will tell you how long they've been coming and how it's always been delicious. BUY A KOOZIE for your beer, and to remind yourself of how you can't wait to eat at Jay's again when you're away!

Big thank you to Kim, she made our first time so wonderful. You have fans for life! We will always go out of our way to eat at this stellar gem. It truly is the best BBQ we have ever had, and we eat a whole lot of BBQ. Thank you Jay's, for making BBQ the right way and putting out such a high quality product! The pictures don't do it justice, we can't wait to...

Jays has the best BBQ in town. No contest. They also really appreciate their customers. Highly recommend supporting them!

Open for lunch four days a week. Itd be great if they'd add a few more days or extend the lunch hours til 3ish, but for now they close at 2. Lines are long and parking is limited. They have a small lot but its mostly street parking.

Great atmosphere. It feels like you're at a friend's cool BBQ just hanging out. Lots of interesting decor and they do their best to keep the outdoor seating comfortable. Friendly staff. The flavors are fantastic, food tastes very fresh, and the portions are large which is why I dont find it pricey. Id say just right. Brisket is definitely the star of the show! Id guess it all starts with a good quality brisket. Not sure where they get theirs from, but its consistently good. Not too fatty and they season it well. Its smokey with just the right amount of salt. The ribs are a close runner up with lots of flavor as well, but are sometimes a bit dry or too sweet for me personally. Pig candy is excellent. The sausage is also good and never overdone. I usually go for mac, slaw, beans, or potato salad on the sides. Theyre all good. Nothing is spicy if youre concerned about spice. On the potato salad I prefer more dill flavor, but it is still very good. I just wish they served greens of some kind. I do like that they mix it up by frequently offering specials! Overall I absolutely love Jays.

UPDATE: Went back today and got my FAVE the meat sweats but added queso... SO good! Jays...

We arrived at Jay's BBQ Shack about noon on Saturday. The line to order was forever long, but we expected that, being that they are listed by Texas Montly as one of the Top 50 BBQ joints in Texas!! If you would like a beer or soda while you wait in line - you can go directly to the pickup window to get that. The line to order took almost 2 hours - but the $2.50 Lone Star Tallboys kept us entertained!! We ordered Jay's Platter which included 3 Slices Brisket, Pulled Pork, 2 Sausage Links (we chose regular & Christmas versions), 3 slices Smoked Turkey, 3 Pork Ribs, 3 sides of your choice, bread, pickles, & onions. That was plenty of food in itself, but we opted to add on 2 additional sides to be able to try everything!! Potato Salad, Cole Slaw, Pinto Beans, Hatch Mac & Cheese, & Jalapeno Corn. All this food (so much) & 4 beers came out to almost $100 - BUT - it fed 4 of us with leftovers!! Everything we had was absolutely amazing!! It was totally worth every penny & every minute we stood in line!! The staff was helpful in making our choices & were so kind!! Our food came out almost immediately after ordering. There is no inside seating - outside picnic tables only. But they are all very well maintained (all painted so no splinters) & even had pads on the bench seats!! Almost all tables were covered by the awning so being in the shade was not an issue. We absolutely recommend this place & will return here next time we are...