Desert Oak Barbecue — Restaurant in El Paso

First time trying Desert Oak BBQ with my husband yesterday for lunch and it was a solid 4 stars! Being in TX I definitely wanted to look for more Texas BBQ establishments but it seems there aren’t too many here in El Paso, Desert Oak is one of the top rated places so of course we had to see for ourselves if it lived up to the hype of their reviews.

We happened to come on a Friday afternoon for lunch so it was the perfect time to beat any crowds. I can definitely see this place being packed on weekends! Lucky for us there wasn’t a wait when we arrived. I will say the vibe kind of threw me off upon entering cause the place was dead quiet. Even though there were a decent amount of customers I was caught off guard by the lack of atmosphere but I wasn’t going to judge based off of that one thing. Maybe they could turn up the music a bit? That might help so you don’t feel like you’re walking into a library.

We were seated right away and the hostess was the one to take our drink order, I believe our waiter may have been on break or busy elsewhere at the time. Jesse was the one to come by and introduce himself as our waiter for the afternoon. Very good service and he gave some good recommendations since it was our first visit. No complaints at all with the service. Jesse was great!

We ordered the pork belly bites for our appetizer. Upon Jesse’s recommendation, we chose the sweet sauce to go with the bites. And boy was it a GREAT choice! We absolutely loved everything about the sauce and how crisp the pork bites were. I would give that a solid 5/5. Jesse did let us know it was a smaller portion appetizer but that was perfect for my husband and I.

For drinks my husband ordered their Shiner Bock beer and I tried the strawberry lemonade. My husband liked his beverage. I really was neutral on my choice. I’m not too fond of lemonade that tastes artificial (minute made with a pump of syrup). It was a little hard for me to tell if the lemonade was freshly squeezed or not. But it didn’t taste awful so I was more or less ok with it. I would say it was a 3/5.

For our main entrees my husband got the BFS which is their brisket, sausage and pulled pork on their sandwich buns. He said he really loved the sausage and the brisket and pulled pork were juicy. We both loved the fresh French fries that came with his meal too. Heavily seasoned with salt and pepper, which we both liked a lot.

I ordered the build a bowl with macaroni and cheese with pulled pork on top, along with sour cream and their jalapeño crema drizzled over the dish. I also got a side of their creamed corn.

I think next time I will definitely go for their pulled pork sandwich. I understand ordering Mac and cheese at a bbq place isn’t really ideal but it sounded delicious at the time. Just my preference but it would be nice to have had a little more pulled pork on top. Not piled high or anything just a bit more than the bit that was given. The mac and cheese was ok, very cheesy and filling. Probably a 4/5 for me.

And I would say the creamed corn was decent. The sauce kind of threw me off at first I thought I was given biscuits and gravy. I would also rate this dish a 3/5 just compared to other creamed corn I’ve had elsewhere.

I do also recommend their spicy BBQ sauce but honestly both options provided were good. I just personally prefer a more spicy BBQ sauce.

For desert my husband and I decided to share the banana pudding. We’re both huge fans of banana pudding and even make our own at home so I was curious how it would compare. Overall it was pretty good! The banana pudding mixed perfectly with the softened vanilla wafers and fresh banana slices. I think it was a delicious end to our meal.

Overall I’d give Desert Oak BBQ a solid 4/5 stars. Everything was pretty good in my opinion. Like I said, I would definitely go for their pulled pork sandwich or another more meat heavy option next time we visit. I think I just ordered something they’re not really known for so that may be why I wasn’t wowed like I expected. Definitely...

If you're cruising through El Paso, Texas, or fortunate enough to call it home, you absolutely must swing by Desert Oak BBQ. Nestled in the heart of the city, this spot has become our go-to whenever we escape the hustle of Los Angeles for a taste of authentic, mouthwatering BBQ.

From the moment you step through the doors, the warmth isn't just from the smokers out back; it's the genuine smile of the staff that greets you. At Desert Oak BBQ, hospitality is on the menu, served with every dish. The staff's friendliness is not just an act; it's palpable, making each visit feel like catching up with old friends.

Now, let's talk food. The brisket here isn't just good; it's transcendent. Smoky, tender, and packed with flavor, it's the kind of brisket that makes you understand why BBQ is not just food but a cultural experience. The stuffed baked potatoes are a revelation – imagine a fluffy potato jacket filled with your choice of BBQ meat, topped with cheese, sour cream, and chives. It's comfort food elevated to an art form.

Don't skip the chili cheese rice or potato salad; they're delightful side dish of indulgence –smothered in a rich, smoky chili and gooey cheese, perfect for sharing (or not, no judgment here). And for dessert, the banana pudding is the sweet note you didn't know your meal was missing. Creamy, with layers of vanilla wafers and fresh bananas, it's the perfect end to a BBQ feast.

What makes Desert Oak BBQ stand out, aside from the phenomenal food, is their commitment to quality and authenticity. Everything is prepared with love, from the selection of the meats to the crafting of their sauces. The ambiance is relaxed, with an inviting atmosphere that speaks to both locals and tourists alike.

We travel down by train from LA, and every time, Desert Oak BBQ is the highlight of our trip. It's not just about the food; it's about the experience, the memories, and the community feel that this place exudes. Whether you're here for a business lunch, a family gathering, or just another day in El Paso, make Desert Oak BBQ your pit stop.

You won't just taste the BBQ; you'll feel the heart of El Paso in every bite. Highly recommended for anyone who appreciates true BBQ done right. Can't wait for our next visit – Desert Oak BBQ, you've got a piece of our hearts and...

We went to Desert Oak BBQ, upon a high recommendation from a regular customer. Yesterday was the perfect day for it, it wasn't very busy at Desert Oak BBQ. Sorry this may be a bit long. Sofia was our server, very courteous and professional. Being our first time was difficult to order what great food this restaurant offered. My wife ordered the turkey and sausage with potato salad and beans, I wasn't sure what to order. So I order the Dino rib meal. Upon getting our food, my wife was happy with her Turkey and sausage. She thought the beans would be like baked or BBQ beans, it wasn't, maybe we should've asked. The Dino meat was not quite what was expected, it was very big, came with a bone, must have weighed at least 1.5 to 2 lbs😲. At first looked very delicious 😋, but once I started to eat it, noticed it to be oversaturated with fat, which could be expected. But it had a lot of liquid fat as well. So I brought this up to our server Sofia and said she would.let her manager know. The manager came by, mentioned to her of the Dino meat. She apologized for the meat being greasy, and mentioned the Dino had fat on it. It was mentioned to her, it was way too much, even with a beef rib. She offered 1/4 brisket and mentioned that was not enough for what the meat weighed. She offered 1/2 a pound, I declined and said to not worry about it. I'll leave it as it is, was not asking for the meat item to be removed from the bill. It could have been handled better. She did offer 20% discount. I wasn't quite content with the meat, though the sides were great which were Coleslaw Green Chile rice. That was great. With this, I'm just one customer and sure that many come here to enjoy good BBQ. Sadly, wil not be returning. "Sofia if you read this, thank you for.your Profesional courtesy and service." Finally, to the upper management I saw the scan for both good and bad reviews, didn't have the QC code. Though, I did follow chain of.command, the end result did not end well. Been to.many BBQ, this did.notwell. well. Hope it gets better. Thank you...