Canyon Joe’s Barbecue — Restaurant in Lincoln

I hit BBQs all over the country for appreciation of how difficult it is to do well. This is one of the best I've seen. The brisket itself was "pretty good", not quite as smoky as I like and decently moist, but the thickest bark I've ever seen really took it over the top. Like bark that was 3x thicker than anywhere. The slices were also thick to hold in moisture. It was very tender, and as long as you get some of that bark in each bite, it becomes really unique & special, almost like burnt ends. Speaking of burnt ends, they have pork belly burnt ends, which is again really unique, and again with massively thick bark. The bark here had a hint of honey to it, as if maybe it was a bonding agent. There were a few spots where the fat of the pork belly was just a bit much, but that's being really picky. Over all, these were some of the best and most unique burnt ends you can find. The ribs were better than average in terms of being moist with decent bark. No aspect was best ever, but all aspects were enjoyable. The mac & cheese had a special name that I'm forgetting but was also near best in class and unique. Any great BBQ is worth repeat but the awesome bark and unique ideas happening at this joint make it one of the best I've ever seen. If I lived near, I'd...

I decided on a whim to walk off of the UNL campus and try to get some barbecue. I’ve been craving some a whole lot lately and I have been hearing great things about Canyon Joe’s, so I thought I’d give it a try. Boy was that a good idea. I got the Thursday special, brisket hatch n’ cheddar, and it was quite well made. The brisket was seasoned really well and is easily up there with some of the best I have had. I chose to upgrade my side from the typical chips and that was a great choice too. I went with the canyon mac, which was really great too, flavorful but unique. I’m used to most restaurants just having okay tasting mac and cheese, and having nothing special about it. This was not one of those restaurants, and I was very impressed by that. This was a real homemade mac and it would go well with about any meal. The bbq sauces were also great- I don’t think there was a bad option in there, but my favorite was the prairie fire sauce. I will definitely be back to try some more, and I absolutely recommend stopping in if you find yourself in the area. You...

Joe is great and his food is even better. Expect this place to become an institution.

I was in Dallas in July and the bbq here can hold its own with the best. I did not know what I signed up for when arrived, so consider this your warning that you’re about to embark on a vision quest right through flavortown.

I did not know turkey could taste so good. I still can’t understand it. The brisket positively melted. The sauces were on point. The slaw was probably top 5-10 I’ve ever had, the potato salad was the perfect degree of rich, and the mac’n’cheese was stupidly good. The prices would have been reasonable if the food was mediocre, so let’s just say you get your money’s worth and then some. Also the sweet tea is the real deal, excellent surprise.

The burnt ends were sold out before noon, so I’m clearly not the only one who things this place is magical. My only regret was not getting a desert, but my friend had to roll me out the door as it was. 10/10, I will be back....