Anyone who's been on this site for any amount of time likely knows of my undying love for Phat Jacks, a barbecue heaven in Lincoln. For most of my reviews I try to spread the word about some place I've never been to. But I decided heck with that this week - if there is anyone who doesn't know about Phat Jacks, they need to. Plus I was absolutely starving after a full day of moving Tuesday and needed some barbecue in my life.
I'm a huge ribs guy, so I order half a rack with two sides. But everything on the menu is great. Any first timer needs to order the burnt ends (though they sell out quickly, so get there early). The burnt ends are incredibly tender and have tremendous flavor.
Here's the half rack of ribs:
And a close up:
The ribs were meaty and had great flavor alone. Phat Jacks rub isn't necessarily anything to write home about, but the smoke on the meat is great. And they're the perfect amount of tender - they don't fall off the ball but also don't require a great amount of effort to rip the meat off.
The sides were excellent as well. I passed on the coleslaw and cheesy potatoes this time around to go with the beans, which have chunks of brisket inside, and the cornbread. The beans are very good, but that cornbread is a must. There is a layer of sugar on top that gives it a great crunch.
I've had just about everything on the menu and it's all good. The brisket isn't my favorite at Phat Jacks - it's still very good, but not enough to make me pass on the burnt ends or ribs for it. The pulled pork is great and doesn't require sauce (though their spicy sauce is really, really flavorful and has just enough kick).
Phat Jacks has a number of sandwich combinations. I highly recommend the Psycho (half pulled pork, half brisket) or the Hogzilla (brisket, bacon, hot link). They also offer barbecue nachos and a loaded potato.
The service was friendly and helpful, and the wait time is very minimal. Seating can be somewhat limited depending on when you go, but there has only been one or two instances when it was a real problem for me. The prices are very reasonable - my meal was about $14, which isn't bad for the amount of food and the quality. If you get a sandwich you can easily eat for under $10.
Phat Jacks is the best barbecue you'll find in Nebraska, hands down. I give it a 9.8 out of 10. It's not quite on par with some of the more well-known hotspots in KC, but I honestly don't think it's all that far off. If you have yet to try it, please correct this hole in your life. You will not be disappointed.
I'm a huge ribs guy, so I order half a rack with two sides. But everything on the menu is great. Any first timer needs to order the burnt ends (though they sell out quickly, so get there early). The burnt ends are incredibly tender and have tremendous flavor.
Here's the half rack of ribs:
And a close up:
The ribs were meaty and had great flavor alone. Phat Jacks rub isn't necessarily anything to write home about, but the smoke on the meat is great. And they're the perfect amount of tender - they don't fall off the ball but also don't require a great amount of effort to rip the meat off.
The sides were excellent as well. I passed on the coleslaw and cheesy potatoes this time around to go with the beans, which have chunks of brisket inside, and the cornbread. The beans are very good, but that cornbread is a must. There is a layer of sugar on top that gives it a great crunch.
I've had just about everything on the menu and it's all good. The brisket isn't my favorite at Phat Jacks - it's still very good, but not enough to make me pass on the burnt ends or ribs for it. The pulled pork is great and doesn't require sauce (though their spicy sauce is really, really flavorful and has just enough kick).
Phat Jacks has a number of sandwich combinations. I highly recommend the Psycho (half pulled pork, half brisket) or the Hogzilla (brisket, bacon, hot link). They also offer barbecue nachos and a loaded potato.
The service was friendly and helpful, and the wait time is very minimal. Seating can be somewhat limited depending on when you go, but there has only been one or two instances when it was a real problem for me. The prices are very reasonable - my meal was about $14, which isn't bad for the amount of food and the quality. If you get a sandwich you can easily eat for under $10.
Phat Jacks is the best barbecue you'll find in Nebraska, hands down. I give it a 9.8 out of 10. It's not quite on par with some of the more well-known hotspots in KC, but I honestly don't think it's all that far off. If you have yet to try it, please correct this hole in your life. You will not be disappointed.
