Mr. K's Original BBQ — Restaurant in Tucson

I do not want to write this. This place LOOKED like the perfect bbq place. It is just run down enough to have that authentic feel. They serve real Kool Aid and sweet tea. The counter folks were very nice and talked me and my family through their menu as it was our first visit. Everything sounded good and right.

So let's get to it. It wasn't good. It should have been. I wanted it to be great. The dishes should have been much much better.

Here's the break down.

We ordered Brisket, ribs, pulled pork, a hot link, and cat fish.

Our sides were Greens, Mac and Cheese, Okra, and Cauliflower.

The sad truth is that the ribs and brisket were incredibly over done. My ribs were so overdone that the bones had fallen out somewhere between the kitchen and our table. The brisket was crumbly. Without asking, they drenched my whole plate with their sauce. I think they did this to cover up the fact that everything was over cooked. The sauce wasn't great. It was too mild for my tastes and I don't care for my plate swimming in it.

I would review the rest of the meats but it is more of the same. Just change the initial noun.

The one exceptional bright spot was the cat fish. IT WAS EXCELLENT! Fried perfectly, crispy, beautiful. Gorgeous. And thank god something was good. It made the rest of the mediocrity slightly more bearable.

I know that with bbq a couple bad decisions at 6:00 am and the day is ruined. If this was the issue (and I hope it was) your mileage may vary and I truly hope so. Maybe they had a bad day. but maybe it was their best effort. The catfish was indeed good but not good enough to call me back for another try. ...

Having grown up within 4hrs of KC, I'm well versed in good BBQ. My bias: I like a thick, almost jerky-like bark, a hot n'spicy dry rub, and STRONG smoke. I like to taste my pork, but I want to taste the wood in the pork, so that between the bark and the dry rub, sauce is optional. (But still enjoyable.) I prefer Carolina style sauce, nice n' spicy.

I ordered a half rack and here's my impression:

Spare, with an excellent looking bark, perfect consistency. However, when biting in, nowhere near as much smoke flavor as suggested by the bark. The meat on the back of the bone had some good smoke flavor, but it didn't penetrate the entire rib. The meat was extremely tender, and if fell off the bone well. Its almost as if the meat was smoked long enough to get the bark, and then pulled out and finished in the oven. Either that, or the smoker needs some more years added.

The star of the show was the sauce... a sweet, thicker Carolina style, vinegary but not too much, with lots of black pepper. The heat was too weak for me, but that flavor! They should sell it!

For sides, the collard greens were amazing, and the sweet potatoes were a great fit for the Carolina-style sauce. For the price, ($13 for just the half-rack) it was a little expensive for what I got. It was my first BBQ stop for my favorite Tucson ribs, and while it was good... it wasn't quite great!...

My husband and I recently had the pleasure of dining at Mr K's Original BBQ, and we were thrilled with our experience. My husband, in the mood for some hearty BBQ, and we were directed to try this place, and I have to say, we were not disappointed.

I ordered the brisket plate, which came with a side of delicious mac and cheese and the best-tasting coleslaw I've had in a long time. The brisket was tender and flavorful, perfectly complemented by the creamy mac and cheese and refreshing coleslaw. The portions were generous, and every bite was a delight.

My husband opted for the 3 meat combo plate, which included sweet potatoes and a mix of collard and turnip greens with a subtle smoked flavor. He was impressed with the variety and the robust, smoky taste of the meats. The southern sweet tea was a perfect accompaniment to our meal, and the cornbread muffins hit the spot with their warm, comforting flavor.

The service was outstanding, with a friendly and attentive staff that made us feel right at home. The hospitality, coupled with the exceptional food, made our visit truly memorable. We've definitely found a new favorite spot for amazing southern food, and we're looking forward to our next visit. Thank you all at Mr K's Original BBQ for the...