J and L BBQ — Restaurant in Snohomish

The BBQ Shack was well below my expectations. I have grown to really love Carolina Smoke in Bothell. BBQ Shack was recommended to me by a co-worker. So let's start with the most important part -- The Food.

I ordered a pulled pork sandwich. The pork was good...but the sauce was scarce which left a very dry sandwich. I also ordered a couple of sides. The potato salad was a huge disappointment...not because it was bad...but because it was Reser's store bought potato salad. The corn bread actually had a fantastic flavor...but my god was it dry! Even with putting honey on it it was difficult to choke down. Last...and maybe least...the brownie cup. You'll see these in the case at the counter. They look delicious. I'm sure they are...when they aren't old as dirt. Our brownie was practically a hockey puck. I couldn't even peel the paper wrapper off in 1 piece.

Next up...Decor. It's ratty...it looks like crap. And in some ways it should...its a bbq joint. But its dirty, old, and cluttered. Not really enjoyable. I did notice one thing...on a shelf near one of the tables is a small framed sheet of paper talking about how they got started. In there they explain that many years ago they were delayed from opening their current location due to some "controversy with their pigs". It doesn't explain anymore than this...but sitting there reading that while waiting for your food kind of makes you wonder.

Finally...The Service. When I got there I walked up to the counter and there was no employee in sight. I stood there for around 2 minutes until the lady finally came up. Not a long time by any means...but you'd think she could at least start off with "Hi". Instead she just seemed annoyed and gave me the standard "what can I get for you?"....In fact I think the only words she said to me were those...and the total. I never got a hello, I never got a thank you. Heck she never even said "here ya go" when she gave me my food. Just handed it to me and went about her business. She seemed like she absolutely did not want to be there.

Overall...if you're in a hurry...it might be worth stopping in and grabbing some food (make sure to get extra sauce). I mean...store bought and old items are really no different than your average fast food place. But if you want BBQ...real BBQ...drive another 20 minutes to Bothell and have one of the most amazing meals...

Long review but YOU MUST COME TRY IF YOU ARE IN THE AREA. I have driven by this place at least once a month but never during the time it's open. Finally we were able to come in at the right time. The wood smoker aroma right outside was very inviting. Quaint little joint with friendly staff. We quickly decided to try their brisket, ribs and chicken (the 3 meats true test we use to see if BBQ is done right) with cole slaw, baked beans and corn bread sides.

We got our food within a few minutes. Huge portion of about 3 servings each. OMG they were delicious. I can't summarized it here as each one is unique enough to have its own review, down to their sauces:

Briskets - thick slice, moist, tender, flavorful and the bark...oh the bark tasted heavenly & smoky.

Ribs - fall of the bone tender, moist, perfect dry rub seasoning and meaty.

Chicken (thigh) - Crispy skin, juicy, perfectly cooked and they aren't small pieces either.

** none of the meats are greasy which is a huge plus in my opinion.

Cole slaw - perfectly seasoned, chilled and crunchy fresh.

Baked beans - 3 colored (types) beans was the first for me. Peppery goodness yet tender and not overly sweet with a little bite. I can eat a bowl!

Corn bread - this one is a slightly under perfection. BUT still tested wonderfully with the cinnamon butter. The one thing I think could be better is having it warmed and less crumbly.

The sauces - all 3 level of heat compliments the meats perfectly. Not overpowering but giving the meats most depth of its smoky yumminess.

I am not bragging when I say this is one of the best if not THE BEST BBQ we have ever had. And we ate at a lot of BBQ joints.

According to the staff, Joel & Lila (J&L) took over (about 3 years ago) an existing BBQ joint where the owner at the time was getting out of the business. They are self-taught and developed their own recipes as they expanded their selections. I hope they have a continue success and we...

Absolutely fantastic. From the customer service to the food this place is a true 5 star experience.

We arrived at around 615pm on a Sunday night and they close at 7. The parking lot is small, maybe only fits about 6 cars. The restaurant is also small and doesn’t appear to have dine-in currently. The man ahead of us seemed upset that they were out of hot links but showing up within the hour of a barbecue place closing one has to anticipate that some of the day’s menu has run out by then. Just as I was ordering they believed they had run out of pork but the gentleman in the back had miraculously found another tray! I was ready to order the tri-tip as a substitute but instead went with a Pulled Pork Sandwich as my original pick. You order inside and they will bring it out to your car rather than having you wait inside.

We ordered a Pulled Pork Sandwich with Cowboy Caviar and The Brisket Dip Samdwich with Baked Beans. I got the spicy option for barbecue sauce for my pork sandwich and while it had some kick, it wasn’t too spicy. Don’t steer clear if you’re worried about too much hotness because it was delicious. My companion actually wound up using the bbq sauce as a dip more than the aus jus that came with their Brisket Dip sandwich! The sides were also top notch. The baked beans were smoky and satisfying and the cowboy caviar was addicting while also getting some healthy fresh veggies in.

We took our order over to the park by the river in downtown Snohomish and had a nice dinner on one of the picnic tables there (both were available around 640pm). Overall a great place that I would recommend to all and I will...