Duke City BBQ — Restaurant in Albuquerque

WoW! I don't write long reviews, let alone any reviews... unless I really LIKE the place or I really HATE it. And This Place... is AMAZING!

Okay! Here goes! I was itching for BBQ and someone told me about this place... so I gave it a chance and they did NOT disappoint!

If it hadn't been for Google Maps, I would've missed this place. Because it's literally "a hole in the wall kinda' place"... which, to me, is a good sign! Hole in the wall places have good food!

Any who... Though I was dying for BBQ. I always live by one theory, for myself, which for me - NEVER FAILS If the Mac n' Cheese is good, then the meat will be too! Why? Because if ANY restaurant take special care for their sides to taste amazing, then the main meal will be golden!

So... I ordered The Sausage Sandwich (which comes with a bag of chips). Aaaaand of course, I ordered a side of the Mac 'n Cheese.

I was a little fearful at first as they scooped my Mac 'n Cheese in the bowl in front of me, because from where I was standing it looked like Creamy Mashed Potatoes???? And I thought they got my order wrong or something or it was someone else's order they working on... shrug.

They brought my meal to my table and I opened my cup and yeah - it looks like mashed potatoes. I couldn't tell if there was any mac noodles... so I took bite...

PAUSE for Emotions And it was GLORIOIUS!!!

HOLY COW! Cheesy As F-! Again CHEEEESSSY AS F-!

It is soooooo good! I finished half my side before I realized I had my sandwhich in front of me!

And I took a bite of one of the sliced sausages that fell from my sandwich before actually biting into my sandwhich.

INSERT DROOL FACE It was delicious!

I had to stop one of the staff members who was walking by, right as I finished consuming it and I had to compliment him on the food!

And I'm glad I did! He told me that the sausage is HOME-MADE! And you can taste it!

Commerical BBQ Sausages have a thicker lining that holds the meat and you can feel the difference when it comes to biting into it. But here, at Duke City BBQ, the lining of the sausage almost feels non-existent. So the sausage basically feels like it's melting in your mouth!

Maintain Food Thoughts, Y'all LOL

Any who, I'm definitely coming back! And I'm ordering a PINT of MAC next time!

So please, Duke City BBQ - Don't change your recipe on the Mac and on the Sausage! It is so good!

And For Duke City itself - YOU HAVE TO COME...

Friend and I went on a Friday. This is located where the old Siam Restaurant was and various Thai restaurants for as long as I can remember.

Since it is new, I won't be too harsh on the atmosphere, but immediately, things got on my nerves. The way the food is served, the giant window that blinds you facing west, the terrible mini cups to hold your BBQ sauce. All of it piled on and irritated me. There were only like 4 other customers in the restaurant, and I was waiting in a line for condiments and plastic spoons.

I ordered a 3 meat platter of Brisket, Turkey, and Green Chile sausage. The brisket was decent. The Turkey had good flavor, but it was dry. The sausage was just plain weird. It's like they boil them until they are soggy. The sausage is kind of off-putting because it's mushy.

Corn was disappointing. Not because it was made bad, but because it's HALF a cob for $2.00. That's just a good old fashioned rip off.

Let me also say something about BBQ beans. Beans are one of the staples of BBQ places, and if their beans are good, chances are the meats are good. This place has TERRIBLE BBQ beans. They are stiff, the sauce is bland, and it tastes like waterery refritos. I do not recommend them to anyone who loves BBQ beans like I do.

We tried dessert, which has only 2 options: banana pudding and Tres Leches. Banana pudding was good, Tres Leches was spoiled and sour. Yuck.

So before I write a whole novel, a couple of observations. Its clear they don't smoke the food here at the restaurant. Other than it being clear, everything is just sitting in warmers. There's no giant smoke stack on the building. So no, it isn't piping huge BBQ plumes out the roof of the building. Second, all of the warmers are up front by the register, and people do slice it there in front of you, but its kinda like the kitchen is just some weird prep room for corn and desserts.

Bottom line? If this is the only BBQ place to go, stick to the brisket and turkey. Avoid the sausage. Avoid the sides. Just get your brisket, head home, and make some sandwiches or something.

If you have the option to go to Rudy's,...

So I was in this establishment 6/28/2025 around 130 pm or so first time I had been there ! Although the food was really good as I ordered the 3 meat combo with baked beans and okra for the sides ! The brisket was amazing! My only issue and concern the gentleman that was at the register was very rude and hateful it was like he didn't want to be there as I could hear him talking to staff in back thinking I did not understand what he was saying I understood everything he was saying as I am bilingual! And believe me they were not nice or respectful of a paying customer! So I proceeded to ask him questions on the menu as I was not sure little did I realize that you don't get ribs or chicken as it plainly states my bad for asking but this really set him off when I payed I left the establishment a small tip ! And when he asked me if I wanted a receipt I said no ! He literally ripped out the receipt out of the cash register and threw it in the trash ! Even the lady that was weighing my food on the scale looked at him and was like woah what the heck happened! We looked at each other and were like wow ! So I got my order and headed to sit down he rudely said they will bring out your okra as it was not ready ! as he continued to talk to staff hatefully about me as I walked off ! The plus was the food was fantastic,! The negative horrible service from the gentleman at the register ! Will I be back most likely not just for the reason of the service point ! Half the job of keeping customer happy is how you approach them and treat them this gentleman has no service skills period ! What I do say to other customers do give it a shot the BBQ is really good I will not deter anyone from the establishment. But I do believe management needs to look into this gentleman as at some point they will lose more customers purely based on his attitude! Not only his rudeness upset me but it also changed my whole atmosphere of dining...