Guess Family Barbecue

Review №1

Rating: 2

I used to love going here, until they removed the only item that made this place special among so many bbq joints. They got rid of their whole/half bbq chicken and replaced it with only thighs. I tried this thigh, and it was smaller than my 8 year old sons fist. They still charged $11+ for 1 meat meal with only a tiny chicken thigh. You used to be able to pay extra $5 to get the 1 meat meal with the half chicken option, and it was VERY good and filling. Now, their bbq chicken thigh is so tiny and tasteless. It is dry and not as juicy and succulent as it used to be. Their briskets are good, but I can get the same or better briskets at Terrys. Unless they bring back the whole/half bbq chicken, I wont be returning here, as some of my colleagues and neighbors shared my feelings. I am very sad.

Date: 2 days ago

Review №2

Rating: 5

Absolutely fantastic!! Brisket taco was mouth watering, and their margarita snuck up on me, but it was perfect and not harsh. Food

Date: a week ago

Review №3

Rating: 5

We had a lunch event with Guess family BBQ, they were wonderful from planning to their service and making us feel so welcome. The food was amazing we are so grateful window world Waco team!

Date: 2 weeks ago

Review №4

Rating: 5

Amazing!!! Amazing!!!! Thanks for welcoming our Window World team

Date: 2 weeks ago

Review №5

Rating: 5

Excellent smoke turkey Cobb salad

Date: 2 weeks ago

Review №6

Rating: 3

Date: a month ago

Review №7

Rating: 5

Very tender and delicious bbq. Everything just fell apart with ease. Will be back for it.

Date: a month ago

Review №8

Rating: 4

A bit greasy but the flavors were right.

Date: 2 months ago

Review №9

Rating: 5

Great Brisket!!!

Date: 2 months ago

Review №10

Rating: 2

Subpar food. We got the big sampler. Most of our meat was dry and the brisket was mostly fat. Sides were ok. Best thing we got was the stubborn soda.

Date: 2 months ago

Review №11

Rating: 2

Ill preface this with everyone has their own tastes and barbecue can be hit and miss on any day, but I wasnt impressed. The brisket is good, I ordered lean and its a quarter fat but still good. The ribs I ordered dry, should have ordered sauced, they are dry and not a dry rub style in my opinion. The chipotle sausage is ok, the turkey is flat out inedible, I think everyone in the kitchen salted it. Overall the meats are overseasoned and all you taste is the salt and pepper. The sides are awful, the mac and cheese is missing the cheese or just enough to glue the macaroni together. The potato salad is probably from wally world. Service was good and the restaurant is nice inside. Would probably take the food back but Im an hour away.

Date: 2 months ago

Review №12

Rating: 5

Great Food and super cool place too. We had some of their food at BBQ Fest in Lockhart and finally got a chance to stop by. So glad we did. Everything was dynamite. Sides of cheese grits, jalapeno Mac and cheese and popper deviled eggs.

Date: 2 months ago

Review №13

Rating: 5

We were just visiting the area and passed by this building and thought it was closed, but I smelled the smoke and did a u turn. We were treated by Melanie and she was so nice and inviting. We played some games in the bar. Then we are the food brisket sausage and a loaded baked potato. All of it was good!!! EAT MORE BRISKET

Date: 2 months ago

Review №14

Rating: 5

Great BBQ all food is fantastic. Beer wine and cocktails.

Date: 3 months ago

Review №15

Rating: 5

Date: 3 months ago

Review №16

Rating: 1

Too dry both chicken and rib, doesn t taste anything so plan, will not go back

Date: 3 months ago

Review №17

Rating: 5

Date: 3 months ago

Review №18

Rating: 5

The food is very good especially the devil eggs! I havent had them in a long time too. Also the turkey is phenomenal as well...best barbecue place in Waco

Date: 3 months ago

Review №19

Rating: 5

Guess family catered my friends kids wedding. The food was amazing, especially the brisket. They did a great job!

Date: 3 months ago

Review №20

Rating: 5

Date: 3 months ago

Review №21

Rating: 5

Date: 3 months ago

Review №22

Rating: 5

If youre looking for some great BBQ this is the place. If youre really hungry definitely recommend getting a 2 or 3 meat plate. If you just want something smaller 1 meat plate is great for just a quick bite. 10/10 would go again

Date: 3 months ago

Review №23

Rating: 5

I travel all over the Texas triangle for work eating at the top 50 best BBQ restaurants plus other BBQ restaurants and this restaurant is very good. They have a really good hamburger. I love their jalapeno popper deviled eggs which is super creative combining those two foods. I avoid seed oils because they are so toxic meaning I dont eat fried food like wings so I am always excited to see smoked wings and theirs did not disappoint. The BBQ meats are also good. I have eaten at so many TX BBQ restaurants and this was the first of two to offer an individual sample platter which is such a no-brainer to me and is so frustrating to me almost no one offers it. Thank you for offering the individual sample platter. Every TX BBQ restaurant I go to I have to create my own and it complicates my ordering and is more expensive.

Date: 3 months ago

Review №24

Rating: 5

Date: 4 months ago

Review №25

Rating: 5

Great food and a fun atmosphere.

Date: 4 months ago

Review №26

Rating: 5

Date: 4 months ago

Review №27

Rating: 5

Hands down best food and service in town! Dietary restrictions: Gluten free options (they serve potato bread!) Food : 5/5 |

Date: 4 months ago

Review №28

Rating: 2

The people are really nice and great at serving the customers! The food is bland and doesn t really have much flavor unless you cover it in bbq sauce. Probably wouldn t come again.

Date: 4 months ago

Review №29

Rating: 5

Guess Family Barbecue has been a place Ive wanted to try for awhile. The people working there were amazing and nice. It was my first time there so I got the 2 meat plate with brisket, sausage, potato salad, and the green chili Mac and cheese. The food wasnt bad at all, but it wasnt exactly what I wanted out of BBQ. The Mac and Cheese was amazing in my opinion. Ive heard that the brunch is amazing and that they have some great sandwiches. I look forward to going back to try those things, but for regular BBQ I think there are better places.

Date: 4 months ago

Review №30

Rating: 5

Darn good bbq

Date: 4 months ago

Review №31

Rating: 5

Guess is good, one of the better bbq spots in town. I m wishing I had brisket right now.

Date: 4 months ago

Review №32

Rating: 5

I love Guess Family Barbecue. I have been a faithful customer since their food truck days. My favorite is the baby back ribs.

Date: 4 months ago

Review №33

Rating: 2

I was very disappointed in the quality of the food. I know a thing or two about central Texas brisket, and this was just not up to par. At $28/pound, in my order I received about 40% pure fat cap. Just a chunk of tallow. No sir. Not acceptable. With so many competing places within minutes, you are going to have to do better. I can not recommend this place.

Date: 5 months ago

Review №34

Rating: 5

I had a great time and the staff was super helpful and patient

Date: 5 months ago

Review №35

Rating: 5

Date: 5 months ago

Review №36

Rating: 4

Date: 5 months ago

Review №37

Rating: 5

Authentic Hickory smoked Texas Barbque. Enough said. We were in Waco for the Solar Eclipse. Texas hospitality at its finest. Thank you Waco. Food

Date: 5 months ago

Review №38

Rating: 5

Brisket absolutely great!!!

Date: 5 months ago

Review №39

Rating: 5

Delicious Delicious Delicious Guess Family BBQ catered our company party and the food was exceptional.. The Brisket is amazing.. The Macaroni and cheese was a huge hit.. Also do yourself a favor, save room for the Banana Pudding you ll be glad you did A big thank you to Guess BBQ for the awesome dinner and superb service

Date: 5 months ago

Review №40

Rating: 5

Sliced brisket plate and chopped brisket sandwiches were very good. Beans, deviled eggs, and mac n cheese were excellent!! Slaw was good but different, not bad but not my style. Homemade pickles and banana pudding were so-so, again not bad but not our thing. Overall, we will be back and would absolutely recommend.

Date: 5 months ago

Review №41

Rating: 1

Not happy, very very small portions. 2 dinners ribs and brisket. Will not be returning.

Date: 5 months ago

Review №42

Rating: 1

Pre-ordered my wings 4 hours ahead bc I have too many plates spinning for a professional production. I get a call less than 30 minutes that they were out. I needed them within a certain time line and it messed my timeline. Thankfully Georges were able to step in save the day and get my order in quick to help recover some of my time.

Date: 5 months ago

Review №43

Rating: 5

Date: 6 months ago

Review №44

Rating: 5

Great downtown Waco BBQ spot! Top 50 BBQ in Texas, so yeah that definitely says something. The Smash burger was super good, great sauce, premium bun, and super crispy waddle fries! I love the decor in the restaurant tons of western themed items. There was a wall of vinyl country records, a pool table, darts, a big bar, and plenty of seating. The restaurant also had nice big windows for great natural light! Definitely grab a lone star and enjoy the food!

Date: 6 months ago

Review №45

Rating: 4

There jalapeño develed eggs are unbelievable

Date: 6 months ago

Review №46

Rating: 5

Overall the atmosphere and service was very good. However, serving sizes were disappointing. I wouldnt mind paying more for adequate serving size. Meal consited of single meat, two sides w/ drink.

Date: 6 months ago

Review №47

Rating: 5

I really loved this spot. Open and spacious with great prices ($4 kids meal) and delicious food. The service was super friendly and we had a great time. There was a pool table and tvs in the bar area but we were with our kiddos so we stayed in the main space. They even had crayons and coloring paper for the kids. I highly recommend! Kid-friendliness: High chairs, crayons and coloring paper, $4 kids meals

Date: 6 months ago

Review №48

Rating: 5

Date: 6 months ago

Review №49

Rating: 1

Portions are small. Food is good but the price will cause me to go somewhere else.

Date: 6 months ago

Review №50

Rating: 5

Very good food and reasonable prices,first time trying and I have to say they are good I will be returning.Alao great customer service

Date: 6 months ago

Review №51

Rating: 4

Three meat double brisket and turkey plate with beans and coleslaw. Coleslaw was the best thing on the plate. Brisket was just ok. Turkey was better but still not great.

Date: 6 months ago

Review №52

Rating: 5

I am in Oregon right now actually dreaming of Guess Barbecue. It had become tradition for my sister and I to go there every Sunday for their brunch menu, and it is a staple I cant recommend enough. My most favorite restaurant ever and ever! Cheers!

Date: 7 months ago

Review №53

Rating: 3

Date: 7 months ago

Review №54

Rating: 5

Date: 7 months ago

Review №55

Rating: 5

Date: 7 months ago

Review №56

Rating: 4

Good place for BBQ. The ribs were a little dry. The brisket was a little over cooked. My biggest gripe is the even tho there is a full bar, the would only serve draft beer due to no bartender being on duty.... probably not a good idea to only have one qualified person on shift but thats just my opinion

Date: 7 months ago

Review №57

Rating: 2

We had chicken and brisket, both were dry and room temp at best. Sides were good. No bread with Texas BBQ.? Service was quick, they just needed to up their game in quality. Overall 2+ stars

Date: 7 months ago

Review №58

Rating: 3

Date: 7 months ago

Review №59

Rating: 4

Food was good. Really enjoyed the burnt ends, however the portions felt a little small.

Date: 7 months ago

Review №60

Rating: 5

Deviled eggs and brisket taco with sweat tea hits the spot.

Date: 7 months ago

Review №61

Rating: 5

Excellent food ( I had the burnt ends), but the show stealer was the cheese grits. Unexpectedly amazing.

Date: 7 months ago

Review №62

Rating: 5

THE best Texas bbq Ive ever had! I didnt even ask for moist portions for sliced brisket, and they brought me the most moist, tender piece Ive ever had! Their half chicken was also well-seasoned and juicy, and not dry like the other bbq chickens Ive had before. The atmospheres also very nice and clean, and the staff were very friendly.

Date: 7 months ago

Review №63

Rating: 3

This was suggested by some locals as a good bbq place. There was only one bbq sauce and it was very spicy. Not the expected southern Texas sauce. The sliced brisket was a bit dry but tasty. Pulled pork was good. Now the sides are where it s at. Collard greens were delicious. Cheese grits had great flavor. A slice of egg yolk bread is served with the meal. Decent place to stop for a quick bite still under $20.00

Date: 7 months ago

Review №64

Rating: 5

Superb sliced brisket sandwich. Better than almost any I ve ever had! Highly recommend stopping here! I ll be back for sure!

Date: 8 months ago

Review №65

Rating: 5

The food was very good

Date: 8 months ago

Review №66

Rating: 5

The brisket has a real good flavor. The pulled pork is much better than most. The sides are great, especially the greens. The food came out quick and hot. Love how they re-purposed this old building.

Date: 8 months ago

Review №67

Rating: 5

Wonderful!

Date: 8 months ago

Review №68

Rating: 1

Date: 8 months ago

Review №69

Rating: 5

Fantastic barbecue!! Portions are a bit skimpy but the quality of this food is awesome

Date: 8 months ago

Review №70

Rating: 5

Had a great time here. Folks were nice and the place was very clean. Food was great even for those who don t like brisket they were able to get turkey (which I tasted and was the best of all the places I have been), corn dogs, and burger, all were great. Soda machine is also fun with the stubborn cola flavors. I am going down the list of all the top 50 and have made it through about 30 and they are definitely in the top half of the top 50 which is really a strong showing. The burnt ends were well done. The one thing I would point out is when ordering sliced brisket they should ask/offer lean or moist, I go for moist and this was on the leaner side. But overall great experience nice atmosphere and will be back when I m in Waco!!

Date: 8 months ago

Review №71

Rating: 5

Best bbq I had in a long time. Large pieces of pulled pork with little or no sauce. You can add sauce if you want. The beans where a little thick but still also very good.

Date: 8 months ago

Review №72

Rating: 5

Great burnt ends.

Date: 8 months ago

Review №73

Rating: 5

Date: 8 months ago

Review №74

Rating: 5

Exactly what I want out of a BBQ joint. Good food, big plates, and delicious meats.

Date: 9 months ago

Review №75

Rating: 5

Date: 9 months ago

Review №76

Rating: 1

The sign looks good but they never open been by 4 times closed every time Guess its not all that

Date: 9 months ago

Review №77

Rating: 5

Date: 9 months ago

Review №78

Rating: 5

Great food

Date: 9 months ago

Review №79

Rating: 3

I left hungry,ordered 1 meat plate (brisket) beans and potato salad,brisket was ok but portion was not enough for a young child. No onions or bread with meal,only 3 tiny pickle slices and 3 slices of jalapeños,never saw any bbq sauce and the small cup lids were all gone. Probably wont be back mainly because of the chinchy meat portions, what I had should be maybe $9.95..Yall wouldnt stay around long in Lockhart!

Date: 9 months ago

Review №80

Rating: 5

Date: 9 months ago

Review №81

Rating: 5

I cant wait to return!!

Date: 9 months ago

Review №82

Rating: 5

Staff was very friendly and food was great!

Date: 10 months ago

Review №83

Rating: 1

We were unable to eat because they were out of most menu items.

Date: 10 months ago

Review №84

Rating: 4

Date: 10 months ago

Review №85

Rating: 5

Awesome bbq and great people! Guess should be a destination for anyone who loves bbq!

Date: 10 months ago

Review №86

Rating: 1

My husband and I went here on a date night and after hearing so many good things about this place, we were pretty excited. We ended up being sorely disappointed. The person running the front counter was nice and efficient. They were out of several items but since we were there later in the day, thats to be expected with barbecue places. What we did order just wasnt that great. It wasnt inedible, but it wasnt the caliber we were expecting. The brisket had a great bark, but was more like a pot roast under that without any actual smoke flavoring. The green chili mac and cheese was horrible, no sauce and one tiny green chili in the bottom. It was like eating soggy cardboard. The beans and potato salad were good. Coleslaw, grits, and sausage were meh. Just alright. My husband said the pulled pork was really good, so that was our bright spot in the meal. The restaurant itself was good, clean, enough seating etc. I went to get silverware and there were no forks or knives. I asked an employee who was wiping down the area and he said they are all being washed. And walked away without offering to get any or look for plastic cutlery. I mean, who was I to ask for silverware in a restaurant?!? So overall not such a great experience. Well try other places in Waco and see how they stack up. ** Edit to add that we visited on Sunday, October 29th, 2023 at approximately 1pm. I tried to reply to the owners comments, but was unable. I do appreciate the fast response, that is very considerate!**

Date: 10 months ago

Review №87

Rating: 5

So I m not a huge fan of barbecue unless it s my daddy or grandpa because the have set my expectations so high. My boyfriend, however, loves barbecue and talked me into coming here and I ve never been so impressed. I could eat here EVERYDAY for the rest of my life !! The collard greens were AMAZING, the cheesy grits were AMAZING the brisket, the sausage!! It was all cooked to perfection Best barbecue I ve ever had! We will be back before we head back home for sure!

Date: 10 months ago

Review №88

Rating: 1

Dont waste your money. It was my first and last time going there. Thats not BBQ

Date: 11 months ago

Review №89

Rating: 5

Everything was so good. Little pricey. Collard greens were the bomb dot com.

Date: 11 months ago

Review №90

Rating: 5

Date: 11 months ago

Review №91

Rating: 5

Really good place to eat a Texan BBQ. Preices are perfect.

Date: 11 months ago

Review №92

Rating: 5

Great place, better food. Excellent staff.

Date: 11 months ago

Review №93

Rating: 4

Date: 11 months ago

Review №94

Rating: 5

Deserves its top 50 ranking in the TM BBQ IMO. All meats werr really good. Has a full bar. Food

Date: 11 months ago

Review №95

Rating: 5

Great Texas barbecue. Super friendly staff. Clean,no frills dining space. Great selection of beverages.

Date: 11 months ago

Review №96

Rating: 5

Excellent service, food, and atmosphere. Cute location and we loved the unique fountain drinks to choose from. The burnt ends melted in my mouth, the pulled pork as well as the brisket were just perfect. Loved the house bbq sauce and collard greens as well!

Date: 11 months ago

Review №97

Rating: 5

Stopped here on a road trip at the suggestion of a local. They nailed it!

Date: 11 months ago

Review №98

Rating: 4

We enjoyed the brisket but we asked if the side dish had bacon in it and were told no. We cannot eat pork and the side dish did have bacon. We had to swap out. It s not a huge deal but if we had ordered to go it would have meant we couldn t have had a side.

Date: 11 months ago

Review №99

Rating: 5

Nestled in bear country in Waco, TX sits this cozy BBQ joint that has the pleasure of being a Texas Monthly Top 50. Atmosphere - has that rustic yet newer style look of a BBQ restaurant. Wide open space of seating makes the establishment look large. Plenty of TVs around to catch up on sports. Food - the brisket had a nice smoke ring and was juicy. Tasty bark. The sausage was my favorite part. Big chunks of creamy cheese and chipotle, however not spicy. Which is fine by me since I will sweat with little spice. Surprised to see collard greens on the menu over green beans. Green beans seem to be a staple amongst BBQ restaurants in Texas. The collard greens were wonderful. Not bland. Seasoned well.

Date: 11 months ago

Review №100

Rating: 5

Date: a year ago

Review №101

Rating: 5

The first time we came here when we just moved to Waco, it was just okay. But we had their brisket in their food truck several times that we had to come back here. It didnt disappoint. Food was great and we really like the soda variations too.

Date: a year ago

Review №102

Rating: 3

Quality and taste is very good but the price is high for the quantity provided.

Date: a year ago

Review №103

Rating: 5

Delicious food, prompt and friendly service. Highly recommend!

Date: a year ago

Review №104

Rating: 5

Brisket was excellent!

Date: a year ago

Review №105

Rating: 5

Brisket was excellent

Date: a year ago

Review №106

Rating: 1

No sausage or pork available on a Sunday lunch? Sliced brisket plate on hunk of meat, no slices for $14.00? My last much at this place.

Date: a year ago

Review №107

Rating: 5

Date: a year ago

Review №108

Rating: 5

Date: a year ago

Review №109

Rating: 1

The food was so greasy that it made me sick. Real barbeque is not this greasy. I was very disappointed

Date: a year ago

Review №110

Rating: 5

Date: a year ago

Review №111

Rating: 4

Good bbq especially the brisket sandwich is amazing really delicious

Date: a year ago

Review №112

Rating: 5

Just driving thru Waco and decided we wanted BBQ. The sliced brisket was extremely tender and the sides were delicious. Great atmosphere too. I would definitely come back!

Date: a year ago

Review №113

Rating: 5

Hands-down some of the best brisket we have ever had!!! The sides were delicious too (especially the green chili mac and cheese!), and the venue was clean, welcoming, and spacious. We would highly recommend this to friends and will definitely be back!

Date: a year ago

Review №114

Rating: 5

Food is always top-notch. I know bbq is very subjective, so instead of just saying I love the flavor, I will say that everything Ive ever had was always cooked right.

Date: a year ago

Review №115

Rating: 5

This review is LONG overdue. We loved this barbecue stop on our trip through Waco this summer. Get there early in the day so you can try their brisket, its seriously the best brisket of all time. I have been craving it ever since. Our family will be coming back to Waco to have it again!

Date: a year ago

Review №116

Rating: 5

Date: a year ago

Review №117

Rating: 1

Never greeted, no Hi!, nothing. Menu was confusing to me. No BBQ plates. Everything appeared to be sold by the pound. New to me. Ordered brisket and two sides $32. No thanks!! Food quality was good but not worth $32 for one person.

Date: a year ago

Review №118

Rating: 5

GREAT SPOT REID IS THE MAN !!!

Date: a year ago

Review №119

Rating: 5

AMAZING BBQ SPOT it s phenomenal the food is great and the service is amazing shout out to Reid !!!!

Date: a year ago

Review №120

Rating: 5

Amazing place very good food and a great atmosphere REID IS AMAZING LOVE THAT MAN

Date: a year ago

Review №121

Rating: 4

Date: a year ago

Review №122

Rating: 1

This place is a rip off

Date: a year ago

Review №123

Rating: 4

Date: a year ago

Review №124

Rating: 5

Good stuff great brisket tacos

Date: a year ago

Review №125

Rating: 5

Such good Brisket and pork ribs. Some of the best I ve had in Waco so far

Date: a year ago

Review №126

Rating: 5

I went to Guess today and got the 2 meat plate. I went with Brisket and Pork Spare Ribs. The flavor of both was excellent. Both were perfectly cooked, presented well and were just crazy good. The beans with brisket were phenomenal and the green chile Mac was good, too. Their house made pickles were just about the best pickles I ve ever eaten. The quality of the food was exceptional. Service was great. The restaurant was spotless and cool. Parking: Parking was easy.

Date: a year ago

Review №127

Rating: 2

Nice atmosphere. Food was disappointing. The banana pudding was, for lack of a better word, awful. The pudding was an odd gelatin pudding combo. Not a rich pudding that should be in a banana pudding. The vanilla wafers were a thin off-brand. Not many bananas and they weren t cut in uniform sizes. Some big pieces and some tiny slivers. It would be wise for the restaurant to research some good southern banana pudding recipes. The smoked and fried chicken wings were way overcooked and dry. The brisket sandwich was skimpy on the meat. The fries were run of the mill frozen crinkle cut fries. We won t be going back.

Date: a year ago

Review №128

Rating: 5

Some of the best brisket in Waco! Must try the brisket melt.

Date: a year ago

Review №129

Rating: 5

We drove over an hour to go to a TV star s restaurant here in Waco, and we re turned away, no reservations, no eat here. So we were hungry, and started looking over restaurant reviews in Waco. We came across Guess Family Bar B Que, and I am so glad we did. We were greeted with a warm welcome, and were offered awesome suggestions of The green chili Mac and Cheese(not hot, but extremely tasty) and the beans. The beans are the best beans I have ever tasted. They put a little bit of pulled pork in the beans. Yum Yum. We had brisket, smoked turkey and pulled pork. All were delicious. They also offered banana pudding for dessert. On the menu were chicken wings that are smoked wings and then grilled. Oh my! You need to try this restaurant. Then you d understand why I took the time to write this review.

Date: a year ago

Review №130

Rating: 2

Not Impressed. Like some others have said, brisket was near tasteless. Turkey was ok though. Wasn t expecting soupy beans with a little chunk of chewy fat. The mashed potato salad was tasty. Slaw was nice and fresh but kinda dry as it had far less dressing(if that s what you call it)than you would get anywhere else, not just bbq joints. As for service? The place was not busy but the girl at the register still managed to omit items from not just my pickup order but also the gentleman before me. I ordered 2 slaws and there were none. She looked at the receipt and went to get it but came back with only one. When I told her she got the 2nd one. Didn t live up to the hype. Maybe it was an off day idk. Got what I paid for but like I said, not impressed. Wish there was a place like Meat-U-Anywhere up in Grapevine.

Date: a year ago

Review №131

Rating: 5

I never take the time to leave reviews, but I enjoyed this place so much on a recent day trip to Waco that I had to do so this time! :) The owner was so friendly and seemed genuinely happy to greet patrons. The restaurant itself is very clean and nicely decorated. The food is delicious! The brisket was good (which is still impressive), though Ive had better at other Texas Monthly Top 50s; however, the real star here is the ribs, which were my favorite of any Ive ever had! The deviled eggs and all the sides are so flavorful and tasty. Cant wait to go back!

Date: a year ago

Review №132

Rating: 5

We had the most wonderful Tx BBQ experience with Unexpected Surprises (read to the end...) and met one of the coolest guys on the planet, Reid Guess, owner of Wacos Guess Family BBQ!!! Before ordering, we overheard Reid giving the customers that were in line just ahead of us tips on creating a unique & tasty Dr Pepper with vanilla flavoring using the restaurants AWESOME soda fountain (see photos)... We ordered: Beautiful brisket slices that were so moist and tender with superb bark and an impressive smoke ring. Pork ribs smoked to perfection with a pepper-forward seasoning that well-represents both our state of Texas and the style of BBQ that Texas is known for. We ordered our ribs DRY ...because they dont need any sauce!! Pound of Jalapeño Cheese Sausage that was so juicy and flavorful!! For sides we elected to go with the Yummy Green Chili Mac & Cheese and delicious Beans made with Brisket Burnt-Ends. After digging into the delicious BBQ, I decided that I HAD to take one of the super-cool Guess BBQ T-Shirts back home with me!!! So, I got back in line and requested a t-shirt (I believe that they were ~$20). Reid informed me that the shirts were free today!!! I tried to pay Reid for the shirt but he wouldnt accept it... What a nice gesture. Then, I told Reid how a year earlier, we were seeing family in the Waco area, went to the Silos and visited several area businesses. We tried his restaurant for the first time after the folks at the Balcones Distillery recommended Guess BBQ to us when we asked where the best BBQ in Waco could be found. Then Reid revealed that one of the accent smoking woods that his restaurant uses comes from the local Balcones Distillerys retired barrels... Not only did Reid give me some of the Balcones barrel wood to try at home, he allowed me to visit the restaurants pit area and described in great detail their process for using the barrel wood to put the magic finish on their chicken wings. Please dont pass if you have the opportunity to experience Guess Family BBQ in Waco, TEXAS. Reid Guess has a PASSION for Texas BBQ that is second to none. Take the time to get to know Reid and his food. Enjoy!!!

Date: a year ago

Review №133

Rating: 5

Date: a year ago

Review №134

Rating: 5

Great BBQ spot. The food is spot on, amazing adult beverage selection ranging the full spectrum. Dog-friendly and kid-friendly.

Date: a year ago

Review №135

Rating: 4

Stopped in here for a quick to go bite. They were sold out of most everything closer to the end of their business day. I got the Smashburger, which was very good and the meat blend they used I really liked. I personally didn t care for their seasoning on it, it was strange but I still found it to be delicious and a classic simple burger! The cheesy grits are the best I ve ever had. Must try! The potato salad is very good And the turkey is the enjoyable standard fare The interior is very nice. And the parking lot is good and easy to get into. The 4 stars is because the chairs inside were not fat friendly or even medium sized friendly. You would not be comfortable sitting inside here unless you can fit the width of their chairs as the top curves in and corners poke you in the back. Bad move picking these chairs considering their target audience. They do have benches so that is an option! Additionally they were sold out of everything on their menu besides turkey and the burger 2 hours before closing. I understand BBQ restaurants needs to not have lots of waste, however 2 hours before closing is more poor planning than a cost cutting measure. I d definitely come back to try the rest of their food. Parking: Not a lot of parking I thought Kid-friendliness: Seems nice and would bring my family here

Date: a year ago

Review №136

Rating: 2

My girlfriend and I visited due to the Texas Monthly listing, as Im sure many others have. Unfortunately, Im not really sure why this restaurant made the list. Nothing here was egregious, but both the food and service had concerns for us. For starters, its pricey. Fair enough, it is BBQ, but other places in town give more/the same amount with better or equal quality, often for less money too. As for service, you arent able to get multiple of the same meats when getting a 2 or 3 meat plate. If you want a 2 meat plate with just sliced brisket, they ring it up as a 1 meat plate + 1/4 lb of sliced brisket, which is $2.50 more than the 2 meat plate. Doing this with a 3 meat plate was $48, and the portions are small. Pulled pork is a single ice cream scoop worth, still in the scoop shape. Sides seem to come in 1/2 cup sizes, which is very small for beans and slaw. And unfortunately, drink options are very limited. If you dont want soda, you can have sweet tea, unsweet tea, or water, and naturally they were entirely out of tea when we ate. We paid for drinks with our food, but all we could drink was water. As for the quality of the food, parts were fine for sure. The brisket, turkey, and sides were good, but the pulled pork was very chewy and dry. Im also sad to report that the banana pudding was terrible; it was lumpy and gritty, and the wafers were stale. Ive had better banana pudding from gas stations, but it was still $5, which made our total $53 for two. I was looking forward to trying this for a while, but I probably wont be back. I hate to say it, but Id rather have Rudys in a heartbeat.

Date: a year ago

Review №137

Rating: 5

Date: a year ago

Review №138

Rating: 5

Date: a year ago

Review №139

Rating: 5

Stopped here for lunch on our way to Austin and it was the best BBQ I ve ever had. Staff were friendly and helpful. Everything we ordered was great brisket melt was incredible. Queso and banana pudding were great as well. Will be stopping anytime I m in Waco again!

Date: a year ago

Review №140

Rating: 5

The BBQ is always excellent and the people are great to deal with. I love eating here each week.

Date: a year ago

Review №141

Rating: 5

Date: a year ago

Review №142

Rating: 2

Music was too loud. I visited on Fathers day. I didnt expect the service to be so slow. Food

Date: a year ago

Review №143

Rating: 5

Date: a year ago

Review №144

Rating: 3

Great food. Very expensive for the portions size you get. I don t think I ll go back since I can get more for less at other local small restaurants.

Date: a year ago

Review №145

Rating: 5

Date: a year ago

Review №146

Rating: 3

Date: a year ago

Review №147

Rating: 2

My husband and I shared the Meat Sweats. BBQ is mid at best. Definitely over rated. After having eaten at several other Texas Monthly Top 50s and some that didn t even make it; The Salt Lick and Hard Eight; it left a lot to be desired. Wouldn t eat it again.

Date: a year ago

Review №148

Rating: 5

Love coming to Guess! Brisket and sausage are excellent. Their creative options (brunch, sandwiches, tacos, etc) are always fantastic! We regularly make the trip from Huntsville to eat.

Date: a year ago

Review №149

Rating: 1

Way to expensive!!! 2 plates for $28. And only got one slice of brisket and a lil bowl of beans and a lil bowl of potato salad. I had to find somewhere else to eat because I was still hungry

Date: a year ago

Review №150

Rating: 1

Date: a year ago

Review №151

Rating: 5

We got there early and they were sold out of brisket already so must be good brisket!!

Date: a year ago

Review №152

Rating: 5

Very good brisket and sausage Best potato salad and ribs Ive had in Waco so far

Date: a year ago

Review №153

Rating: 4

Good bbq the collard greens were amazing

Date: a year ago

Review №154

Rating: 5

Date: a year ago

Review №155

Rating: 5

Great food. Gotta get there early to ensure they are not out of what you want

Date: a year ago

Review №156

Rating: 5

First time was good experience and food.

Date: a year ago

Review №157

Rating: 4

Good cue with good, unusual sides and a different selection of soft drinks.

Date: a year ago

Review №158

Rating: 5

Tiffanys pineapple upside down cake mimosa is the best mimosa I have had in a long time

Date: a year ago

Review №159

Rating: 2

Stopped by on my Texas monthly tour and this did not live up to expectations! Ordered the one meat plate with brisket, beans, and Mac n cheese as well as an order of burnt ends. Portions were on the small side. Brisket was lacking flavor and dry and the burnt ends were so dry that they tasted more like a dry pot roast! Sides were ok, but nothing special. The only thing bumping this up to 2 stars was the guy who took my order was very friendly and the homemade pickles were very good! I left very disappointed.

Date: a year ago

Review №160

Rating: 5

Great place for lunch..the food was so good..

Date: a year ago

Review №161

Rating: 1

This garbage makes me miss Michnas so bad

Date: a year ago

Review №162

Rating: 5

Love the food and my kids love the brisket and cheese grits.

Date: a year ago

Review №163

Rating: 5

Great BBQ. Always great service and great food.

Date: a year ago

Review №164

Rating: 5

Great atmosphere & story behind the bbq. Brisket was juicy, tender & full of flavor! Excellent cheesy grits. Potato salad was well seasoned. Recommended dishes BBQ

Date: a year ago

Review №165

Rating: 5

Date: a year ago

Review №166

Rating: 5

Food is always good. As with all barbecue its a little expensive but worth it. Staff is super.

Date: a year ago

Review №167

Rating: 5

Absolutely thrilled that my husband threw this gem into the mix for our trip. My MIL said it was the best food she had. Brisket melt? Yes, please! Brisket tacos - who said no to tacos? Collards - delicious! Cheese grits - will order again. 4 of us and we couldn t decide what was better. Thank you Guess Family BBQ.

Date: a year ago

Review №168

Rating: 5

Date: a year ago

Review №169

Rating: 5

Deviled eggs brisket and ribs. Wife and I had a wonderful meal here. Great homemade sides. Sausage was great also. Waco must stop for sure!

Date: a year ago

Review №170

Rating: 3

This used to be our favorite BBQ in town. But the last few times the meat was fatty and the sides were not good anymore. We might try it again at some point but probably not.

Date: a year ago

Review №171

Rating: 4

Dinging 1* solely because it was good enough that I wish the portions were a tad bigger. Also wish the burnt ends were candied/sauced but the cashier said its quite literally the end of the brisket with nothing added afterwards. Prob the best bbq place in Waco Id imagine or one the best, would come back.

Date: a year ago

Review №172

Rating: 5

I cant say enough about this place. The food is amazing, the drinks are great, the atmosphere reminds me of ole school BBQ joint but with a modern feel. Great place for brunch and the mimosas are amazing. Great place for lunch and or dinner you just cant go wrong. Cole is the bartender on Sundays and he does such a great job with making you feel like you are at home having great BBQ and good conversations. During football and basketball season they have 4 huge televisions to watch the games. Family friendly and the story behind the BBQ is a must here. If you are visiting Waco its a must and if you are from here well I am sure you already know. If you go doing breakfast/brunch the pull pork pancakes are a must. Or the brisket breakfast taco, or the breakfast hash!!! Dont let me start on the sides. You absolutely cant go wrong.

Date: a year ago

Review №173

Rating: 5

The food was GREAT! but margaritas by the bartender, Tiffany was the best part of the experience!!!

Date: a year ago

Review №174

Rating: 5

Excellent BBQ and sides. Unpretentious, relaxed, and every dish spot-on. Arriving at 2 PM (an hour before closing), theyd sold out of most meats - clearly shown on the tv menu - but the pulled pork, sausage and burger were all excellent. Deviled eggs with candied jalapeño bits were sweet & a favorite even for our two dont-make-me-eat-spicy Gerber babies in the crew. The collard greens & mac-n-cheese also got high marks, and the fries were an example of everything french fries should be, with just the right amount of salt, good crunch on the outside without being overcooked. (Large chain restaurants, are you paying attention here?) And this quality even at the end of their day! Definitely earns their 5 stars. Bravo!

Date: a year ago

Review №175

Rating: 4

This was our second visit. Stopped two years ago on a visit to the area & we loved it! Our visit this time was also yummy. We had the chopped brisket sandwich & the two meat plate with a side of burnt end. Everything was great, especially the rib & burnt end. We did feel that the portion size was small for the price paid.

Date: a year ago

Review №176

Rating: 5

Our first time my husband cooks a lot of BBQ. He said the brisket and the sauce were some of the best he has ever had. The pulled pork in the loaded baked potato was great. Three of party had the chopped brisket sandwich and ate it all. The potato salad, cheesy grits, and macaroni and cheese were all liked. The staff were very friendly and very helpful. We would definitely go back. We paid extra to buy some sauce to take home. They said they will be bottling it and selling it soon.

Date: a year ago

Review №177

Rating: 5

Best food in Waco up there in the top ranks of best bbq in Texas

Date: a year ago

Review №178

Rating: 5

Good friendly customer service Good Fresh Food. Brisket ummmmmm so soft. Also loved their French fries Beans were also

Date: a year ago

Review №179

Rating: 3

Little stingy on meat portion, it was good, but it was bland and hardly no seasoning on the bark on the brisket. Overall to pricey for the quality they offer.

Date: a year ago

Review №180

Rating: 1

Decided to give this place a try after seeing it made the top 25 on Texas bbq monthly. I don t believe that for one second after eating here we ordered the holy feast. the brisket had no flavor and tastes as if it was boiled the ribs were dry and horrible honestly. The turkey was actually decent the sausage one bite and spit it out pulled pork was dry. Nothing seemed fresh at all. The deviled eggs we ordered to see what it was all about sounded very good but again very disappointing. Potato salad not much better the beans were actually decent. If this place made the top 25 it definitely was not from the food we ate today. If you can t serve fresh bbq that tells me you re more concerned with profit the providing best bbq possible. Extremely sad in my opinion. Do better for the name of Texas BBQ.

Date: a year ago

Review №181

Rating: 4

First time trying Guess Family BBQ in Waco. Ordered the 3 meat with a side of burnt ends Wife got the loaded potato with pulled pork. 3 meats were Hot Link, pork ribs, Brisket Burt Ends we re the stand out. Good flavor perhaps a little dry Sliced brisket. I asked for moist but received a cut from the flat that looked dry. Flavor again was good however the fat was not completely rendered and the meat was somewhat dry. Hot Link. Flavor was good with some heat and good snap. Pork Ribs. These fell flat. Small ribs cold and over cooked. Little meat. Tough to chew what meat there was. Loaded Potato. Was good but nothing special. The cheese sauce was bland. Sides Baked beans with brisket was good but needed more seasoning for my taste. Coleslaw was good with great texture and great flavor. Included with the meal were fresh sliced jalapeños, white onion and pickles. House bbq sauce is good with decent flavor.

Date: a year ago

Review №182

Rating: 5

Date: a year ago

Review №183

Rating: 5

Date: a year ago

Review №184

Rating: 4

Stamp no. 20 in our Texas Monthly passport, although not sure why this rated top 50. Dont get me wrong, food was pretty good. You could do worse. The ribs were terrific, as were the deviled eggs with a bit of brisket jam on top. But weve had better brisket, pulled pork and burnt ends at other places. Burnt ends here are just 2 ends lopped off the brisket then added to the tray. No little square morsels of delicious meat candy....just 2 hunks of brisket. Dont waste the $10 bucks on those.

Date: a year ago

Review №185

Rating: 5

The ribs here are really delicious. Would make the trip again just for those. Collard greens were also VERY good. Great sausage. Burnt ends and brisket were good, just not as good as the rest.

Date: a year ago

Review №186

Rating: 5

Date: a year ago

Review №187

Rating: 5

Love this place! The meat sweats was delicious!

Date: a year ago

Review №188

Rating: 2

When it comes to barbecue, Id say this place is over priced and under qualified. If youve never had barbecue before it would probably be a treat. If you have, or at least good barbecue, its a let down. Theres no combo plates. Just by the pound or link. The quarter pound of brisket was 1 slice about 5/32 thick and about 6 long. Mostly fat, which was the only part of the slice with good flavor, and moderate bark. The sausage was decent. They made sure to make up for any feeling of still being hungry with a hefty amount of beans that were pretty bland and not worth the extra $3.50. At least they have beer on ice.

Date: a year ago

Review №189

Rating: 5

Date: a year ago

Review №190

Rating: 4

Date: a year ago

Review №191

Rating: 5

Date: a year ago

Review №192

Rating: 5

Very good brisket and ribs, exceptional mac and with meat being more expensive these days I felt like the prices were pretty fair. This place is a Texas Monthly top 50 BBQ joint for a reason! Id highly recommend it!

Date: a year ago

Review №193

Rating: 4

Date: a year ago

Review №194

Rating: 5

Went to meet my daughter for brunch and this was our first time here. The macaroni & cheese wasnt my thing personally, but everything else was great. The brisket melt with aoli was my favorite, but the plain brisket, Chipotle cheese sausage, and smoky garlic sausage were all fantastic. Deviled eggs were pretty good as well. They have a full service bar, and my only complaint was that Id like it if they had a condiment bar to get onion, pickle, and Jalapeños from.

Date: a year ago

Review №195

Rating: 5

It was superb. Atmosphere was great service was outstanding

Date: a year ago

Review №196

Rating: 5

In over eight years, Ive been to many barbecue places in Texas, both on and off the Texas Monthly list, and this is just the 2nd place I have felt the need to comment on based on how amazing everything was. I had the brisket, the turkey, the burnt ends, and the mac and cheese, and everything was completely off the HOOK. Even the sauce and the pickles were slamming, my mouth was in heaven well after eating everything, including meat crumbs. Sadly. they were out of sausage, which sounded amazing, but a good reason to come back and try the rest of the menu. Keep up the great work, and give everybody my thanks for such amazing cooking!

Date: a year ago

Review №197

Rating: 5

Awesome BBQ, friendly staff, and great venue. Highly recommend!

Date: a year ago

Review №198

Rating: 4

Pretty ok all around - the links were the standout. Pork ribs were a bit dry and brisket was very fatty even for a fat lover. There s better options in Waco.

Date: a year ago

Review №199

Rating: 4

The brisket melt was amazing - I ve never had anything like it! The meat was cooked perfectly and was extremely tender. The pulled pork sandwich was delicious, too but I thought it was a little small for the price. Still a great visit and would highly recommend!

Date: a year ago

Review №200

Rating: 3

Good but expensive.

Date: a year ago